FUEL EXHAUSTION CREATES AN OFF ARPT; EMER FORCED LNDG FOR SMA PLT.

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THIS LETTER IS WRITTEN TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENT WITH MY SHINN AIRPLANE ON AUG/XX/94. EXHAUSTION OF FUEL ON AUG/XX/94; RESULTED IN A FORCED LNDG ON INTERSTATE 395 AT MOOSUP; CT. THE SHINN GAS TANKS ARE 17.5 GALLONS; ONE IN EACH WING. AFTER 1 HR AND 15 MINS OF FLT TIME; 5 1/2 GALLONS OUT OF EACH TANK; A VISUAL INSPECTION THROUGH THE GAS FILLER NECK SHOWED AN EMPTY TANK. THIS MEANS THAT TO CHK FUEL ON BOARD TACHOMETER TIME IS UTILIZED. WHEN THEY FILL; ALWAYS BOTH TANKS; I WRITE DOWN TACHOMETER TIME AND ADD 3 HRS AS FULL TANKS GIVE ME 3.52 MINS OF FLT TIME. THE REASON I ADD 3 HRS IS TO PUT A LIMIT ON FLT TIME TO 3 HRS LEAVING 52 MINS AS RESERVE. I HAVE USED THIS METHOD FOR THE 30 YRS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE SHINN WITH NO PROBS UNTIL AUG/XX/94. ENCLOSED IS MY GAS BILL SEP/XX/94 -- 16.80 GALLONS TOPPED BOTH TANKS. ON THE CARDBOARD IN COCKPIT I ENTERED THE TACHOMETER TIME 453.09 PLUS 3 HRS EQUALS 456.04. AT TAKE OFF TIME ON AUG/XX/94; I SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST 2 HRS OF GAS -- A 40 MIN ROUND TRIP FLT TO WESTERLY TO DELIVER A RADIO TO A SHOP WOULD NOT EVEN RUN INTO THE 52 MINS RESERVE. MY R GAS GAUGE SHOWED 3/4 FULL. COMING BACK FROM WESTERLY AT 2200 FT THE ENG QUIT COLD (NO SPUTTERING) SETTING UP A FORCED LNDG. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU LOOK IN THE TANKS BEFORE TAKING OFF BUT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO A SHINN AS AFTER 5 1/4 GALLONS NO GAS WILL SHOW IN THE TANK. THERE WAS NO LEAKAGE FROM THE TANKS NOR STAINS UNDER THE WINGS. WHAT HAPPENED IS SOMEONE STOLE GAS FROM THE TANKS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE EMPTY; TO REALLY SET ME UP. THE R GAS GAUGE SHOWED 3/4 FULL. THE COMBINATION OF STOLEN GAS PLUS A FAULTY (UNKNOWN) GAS GAUGE WAS THE PROB. NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THROUGH THE YRS. THE FENCE IS NO DETERRENT AS THEY COME IN ON TRAIL BIKES WITH CANS. I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTN; THE FINE ACTIONS OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE STATION. THEY LOADED THE PLANE ON A FLATBED AND QUICKLY GOT THE PLANE OFF THE INTERSTATE AND TO MY ARPT AT DANIELSON.