PVT PLT IN A STEEN SKYBOLT RUNS OUT OF GAS AND PERFORMS AN EMER LNDG AT A PVT ARPT BENEATH HIM.

Narrative

DURING CRUISE FLT; ENG SPUTTERED TWICE THEN QUIT. GLIDED TO A NORMAL LNDG AT WESTERN AIRPARK; A PVT ARPT LOCATED A CONVENIENT 1/2 MI S OF MY POS. AFTER LNDG; FOUND FUEL TANK DRY. ONLY ONE 29 GALLON TANK. A VISUAL SIGHT GLASS FUEL GAUGE IS INSTALLED; AS WELL AS A FUEL FLOW COMPUTER. TKOF WAS WITH 27 GALLONS (CAPACITY 29 GALLONS). FLT TIME 45 MINS. 9.5 GPH CRUISE FUEL FLOW. I CAN DETERMINE 2 POSSIBLE CAUSES: 1)TANK DID NOT HAVE 27 GALLONS ON DEP. THERE WAS A SMALL 4 INCH DIAMETER WET SPOT UNDER AIRPLANE IN HANGAR -- BUT NO BLUE FUEL DYE. ELLISON CARB KNOWN TO DRIP SOME WHEN PARKED. I AM THE ONLY PLT; AND NO ONE HAS ACCESS TO HANGAR BUT ME. AIRPLANE FUELED 2 WKS PRIOR. I DID NOT VISUALLY CHK SIGHT GAUGE BEFORE FLT SINCE THE TOP 4 INCHES IS NOT VISIBLE. 2) FUEL SIPHONING OCCURRED WHILE INFLT. AFTER REFILLING TANK; SOME DRIBBLING OCCURRED FROM A DRAIN VENT. THERE ARE 5 DRAINS GOING TO A COMMON DRAIN LOCATION. A) STRAINER; B) TANK OVERFLOW SCUPPER; C) FUEL PUMP VENT (MECHANICAL); D) TANK SUMP; E) TANK VENT. COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH OF ABOVE WAS DRIBBLING. PLT PROCS AND PRACTICES MODIFIED AS APPROPRIATE!