FUEL STARVATION FORCED LNDG.

Date: 1995-10 · Aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|conflict-ground-conflict|critical|other-unspecified

Synopsis

FUEL STARVATION FORCED LNDG.

Narrative

TOOK OFF FROM CLEVELAND WITH 6 HRS FUEL (JAUCLIN BODY TANK). ENG SUFFERED FUEL STARVATION AFTER 4 HRS 20 MINS. MY FAULT. PROB WAS IN LEG FROM TORONTO TO CLEVELAND. THE FLT TIME WAS TOO SHORT TO COMPLETE TRANSFERRING FUEL FROM THE REAR TANKS TO THE R WING. I MUST HAVE LEFT THE TRANSFER PUMP ON IN CLEVELAND SO THAT AFTER FILLING UP ALL TANKS IN CLEVELAND THE PUMP WAS TRANSFERRING FUEL TO A FULL TANK UP UNTIL THE TIME THAT I SWITCHED TO THE R TANK TO DRAIN ALL THE FUEL FROM THAT TANK PRIOR TO TRANSFERRING. I REMEMBER FINDING THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE L TANK BUT DID NOT SEE THE POS OF THE TRANSFER PUMP -- IT MUST HAVE BEEN ON THE WHOLE TIME; LOSING MOST OF THE 18 GALLONS FROM THE REAR TANK. HENCE; FUEL EXHAUSTION IN 4 HRS 20 MINS. NEVER AGAIN -- A LESSON NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN. TOOK OFF AFTER OBTAINING MORE FUEL WITH NO DIFFICULTY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WASN'T SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FUEL STARVATION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE TRANSFER PUMP BEING ON IN THE FUSELAGE TANK PUMPING FUEL TO THE R WING WHERE; IF IT WAS ALREADY FULL; IT WOULD THEN PUMP OVERBOARD. OR; WHEN REFUELING IN CLE; THE FUELER MAY NOT HAVE FILLED THE TANKS AS THE RPTR REQUESTED. HAD THAT OCCURRED; THE RPTR FAILED TO VISUALLY CHK THE TANKS BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING HARD AND HE WAS RELUCTANT; FIRST; TO GET WET AND SECOND; DIDN'T WANT TO REMOVE THE TANK CAPS FOR FEAR OF WATER CONTAMINATION. REGARDLESS OF WHY HE RAN OUT OF FUEL; HE DID; MUCH TO HIS EMBARRASSMENT. HE WAS FORTUNATE; HOWEVER; THAT THE WX WAS GOOD SO HE COULD PICK OUT A FIELD TO LAND IN. THOUGH IT WAS A PLOWED FIELD; HIS ACFT SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. HE CONTACTED THE FAA; WHO HE THINKS DID A FLY-BY TO CHK THE SIT; AND THEY IN TURN INSTRUCTED HIM WHERE TO TAXI TO FOR TKOF. HE OBTAINED SOME GAS FROM A LCL SVC STATION AND MADE IT OFF FINE. RPTR SAYS HE LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON -- ALWAYS CHK THE FUEL VISUALLY; AND HAS INSTALLED A LIGHT ON THE TRANSFER PUMP TO ALERT HIM WHEN IT'S ON.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.