PLT OF LUSCOMBE 8A DEPARTS ON SHORT ROUNDTRIP WITH APPROX 7 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. ON RETURN LEG AN EMER ENG OUT LNDG WAS MADE FOLLOWING ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Synopsis
PLT OF LUSCOMBE 8A DEPARTS ON SHORT ROUNDTRIP WITH APPROX 7 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. ON RETURN LEG AN EMER ENG OUT LNDG WAS MADE FOLLOWING ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Narrative
I CHKED FUEL IN THE LUSCOMBE THIS AFTERNOON AND IT READ 7 GALLONS. THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AFTER THE REST OF THE PREFLT. THERE WERE MORE THAN 3 QUARTS OF OIL. ASSUMING THAT I WOULD HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH FUEL TO FLY FOR 1 HR AND STILL MEET DAYTIME RESERVE; I TOOK OFF ON THE FIRST INTRO FLT. I FLEW TO VALMIER LAKE AND BACK (2150 RPM'S) AT 2100 FT AND MADE 1 NORMAL LNDG. THAT WAS .6 MAX. I TOOK OFF ON THE SECOND INTRO FLT TO THE LAKE AND BACK AT 2150 RPM AND 2100 FT. ABOUT THE TIME WE WERE ABEAM THE ULTRALIGHT FIELD; THE ENG QUITE SUDDENLY STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY LEG HAD BRUSHED THE FUEL SELECTOR SO I CHKED THAT AS I TOOK THE FLT CTLS. I IMMEDIATELY PITCHED FOR 72 AND CYCLED THE MAGNETOS; PULLED OUT THE CARB HEAT. I MADE SURE THAT THE PRIMER WAS LOCKED IN; CHKED OIL TEMP AND PRESSURE; AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT A FIELD OR A ROAD TO LAND ON. IN THE SPAN OF LESS THAN 15 SECONDS AFTER THE ENG QUIT; I DID ALL THE EMER PROCS AND REALIZED THAT SULLIVAN FIELD WAS ABOUT 3 MI TO THE R. WE WERE AT JUST ABOUT 2000 FT WHEN I STARTED MY TURN TOWARDS THE W (INTO THE WIND). I WAS BEGINNING TO QUESTION IF I WOULD MAKE THE FIELD BECAUSE OF THE HEADWIND AND SPINNING DRAG DISC. I MADE SURE TO PITCH FOR 72 AND I START TO PUMP THE THROTTLE ADD FUEL TO SPIN THE ENG THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY OFFSET THE DRAG. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. I TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY AT SULLIVAN FIELD A LITTLE HIGH AND A LITTLE FAST WITH A SLIGHT XWIND. AS I ROLLED TO A STOP; THE PROP STOPPED WINDMILLING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.