PVT PLT OF A PIPER PA28 MADE AN EMER FORCED LNDG OFF ARPT AFTER THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Synopsis
PVT PLT OF A PIPER PA28 MADE AN EMER FORCED LNDG OFF ARPT AFTER THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Narrative
ON THIS DAY; I FLEW FROM LINCOLN; NE; TO NEW LISBON; WI; ON A XCOUNTRY FLT IN A PIPER WARRIOR. THIS WAS MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE XCOUNTRY IN THIS ACFT. THIS WAS ALSO MY FIRST TIME REFUELING THIS ACFT AT A DIFFERENT AIRPORT. WHEN I DEPARTED FROM THE LINCOLN'S ARPT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS AT THE TABS INSIDE THE FUEL CELLS. I FELT THAT THIS WAS THE PROPER LEVEL FOR THIS AIRPLANE. I KNEW THE PLANE USED 9.5 GPH IN CRUISE FLT. ON THIS AIRPLANE THERE WERE 2 PLACARDS NEXT TO THE FILLER PORT. ONE READ; 'FILL TO THE TABS ONLY;' WHILE THE OTHER PLACARD READ; 'TO THE TABS 17 GALLONS; FULL TO NECK 24 GALLONS.' 34 GALLONS WAS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT FOR MY 2 HR 52 MIN PLANNED FLT TO NEW LISBON ARPT (82C); WI. AT NEW LISBON; I HAD THE PLANE REFUELED TO THE TABS. MIDWAY THROUGH THE FLT; I EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN WINDS RESULTING IN A HEADWIND WHICH RESULTED IN A SLOWER GND SPD. APPROX 15 DME FROM THE LINCOLN VORTAC AT 4500 FT MSL WHILE RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES FROM THE LINCOLN APCH CTL FACILITIES; I EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN PWR OUTPUT. I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED THE FUEL PUMP ON AND THE ENG RETURNED TO NORMAL PWR FOR A SHORT TIME. IT SOON QUIT LATER. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I WAS OUT OF FUEL. I RADIOED LINCOLN APCH WITH MY PROB; MY LOCATION AND MY PLAN TO MAKE AN EMER OFF ARPT LNDG. I DETERMINED THE SAFEST PLACE TO LAND WAS IN A BEAN FIELD NEXT TO HWY 6 NEAR WAVERLY; NE. THE LNDG WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR MYSELF.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.