C172 PLT HAD FORCED LNDG DUE TO FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAK.

Narrative

ON JUN/XA/01; I PLANNED AND EXECUTED A FLT PLAN AND FLT FROM RIFLE; CO; TO SANTA ROSA; CA. MY PLANNED FUEL STOP WAS TO BE TONOPAH; NV; AT MY EXPECTED 4.5 HR AFTER DEP FROM RIL. I EXPECTED LIGHT HEADWINDS; PER THE WX BRIEFING I OBTAINED. THE PLANE WAS A C172 RECENTLY OUT OF A 100 HR INSPECTION AND I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ACFT AND HAD AT LEAST 20+ HRS INITIAL (I HAVEN'T ADDED THEM). THE PLANE HAS EXTENDED RANGE TANKS (54 GALS) AND WE NORMALLY PLAN AT 8 GPH. THIS DAY I PLANNED 8 GPH AND LEFT MYSELF 2.25 HR RESERVE FUEL. THE FLT WAS GOING FINE AND I WAS CONCENTRATING ON AVOIDING A 'HOT MOA' N AND E OF TONOPAH. BEFORE I REACHED TONOPAH; THE FUEL GAUGES QUICKLY RECEDED TO LOW LEVELS AND I SWITCHED TO ONE SIDE. AT ABOUT 50 MI OUT; THAT TANK RAN OUT. I SWITCHED TO THE SECOND TANK. I WAS ALREADY SLOWED TO BEST CRUISE; 75 KTS OR SO. I WAS DSNDING FROM 11500 FT FROM OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND AT ABOUT 14 MI OUT OF TONOPAH; MY LAST TANK WAS RUNNING DRY. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE FOR ANOTHER 4 OR 5 MI FOLLOWING A HWY BENEATH ME AND LOSING ALT. I LANDED WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER; NO TFC ON HWY; COASTED OFF THE SHOULDER AND GOT WORD TO ARRANGE FUEL FROM TONOPAH. WE PUT 10 GALS IN PLANE AND FLEW TO TONOPAH TO TOP-OFF. THE REST OF THE FLT WENT FINE. BACK TO RIFLE; ON JUN/XC/01; AND DISCUSSED THIS INCIDENT WITH THE MAINT SUPVR WHERE I RENTED THE PLANE. I SHOWED HIM MY FUEL AND TIME LOGS AND HE DOWNED THE PLANE UNTIL HE COULD CHK IT OUT. I LATER FOUND OUT THE FUEL CAPS OR CAP MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKING AND SIPHONING FUEL. STILL NOT DETERMINED BY THE A&P; BUT I NOTIFIED HIM OF THIS; AND HE STATED HE ALREADY WAS THINKING ON THAT SAME TRACK. THE PLANE TO THAT POINT BURNED WELL OVER 11 GPH ALMOST 12.