2 RATED PLTS OF AN SMA SEL MADE AN OFF ARPT UNSCHEDULED FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative

THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT LACK OF SUFFICIENT FUEL SUPPLY. THE PROB OCCURRED WHEN ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 17 AT SLC. THE ENG ON THE CESSNA 152 BEGAN TO SPUTTER. PROPER TECHNIQUE WAS USED TO TRY AND RESTART THE ENG. THE ENG DID NOT RESTART. THE ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT FOR THIS WAS TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED OFF ARPT LNDG. THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THE SENSE THAT NO PERSON OR PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED; INJURED; OR KILLED. THE PROB OF FUEL STARVATION WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE PIC IN THE L SEAT NOTICED THAT BOTH FUEL TANK GAUGES READ EMPTY. THIS WAS ON FINAL APCH. THE FACTORS WHICH LED TO FUEL STARVATION WERE: 1) IMPROPER PREFLT PLANNING; 2) CARELESSNESS IN THE AIR; 3) AVOIDANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. IN PREFLT; AN EXACT TIME-TO- LAND WAS NOT CALCULATED FOR THE TRIP. INSTEAD; THE HOBBS METER WAS IMPLEMENTED IN DETERMINING THE ENDURANCE TIME WHILE AIRBORNE. WHILE IN THE AIR AN INCORRECT READING WAS TAKEN FROM THE HOBBS LOGBOOK AND; THEREFORE; THE CALCULATION FOR AN ENDURANCE TIME AND A TIME-TO-LAND WERE MADE. 2 PLTS WERE IN COMMAND OF THE ACFT. THE HIGHER TIME PLT (1200 HRS) RELIED ON THE LOWER TIME PLT (200 HRS) TO CALCULATE A LNDG TIME. THE LOWER TIME PLT; HOWEVER; DID NOT TAKE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING THE TASK SERIOUSLY. INSTEAD; THE LOWER TIME PLT WAS RELYING ON THE HIGHER TIME PLT. THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE: BOTH PLTS WERE RELYING ON THE OTHER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUEL MGMNT OF THE ACFT. WHAT I FEEL REALLY CAUSED THE PROB OF FUEL STARVATION WAS IMPROPER PREFLT ACTION. A TIME WAS NOT CALCULATED ON THE GND FOR WHEN THE ACFT SHOULD BE BACK ON THE GND. ALSO; I FEEL THAT A LAX ATTITUDE WAS USED IN THE ACFT TO MISREAD THE HOBBS LOGBOOK.