1988-08 · NASA ASRS report 92026
EMERGENCY LNDG; ENGINE FAILURE.
CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT; I THINK; WAS PLT ERROR RESULTING FROM INCOMPLETE PREFLT ACTION. I WENT ON INFO FROM PREVIOUS PLT AND FUEL GAUGES INDICATION; WHICH AFTER ENG FAILURE NO LONGER INDICATED FULL TANKS. AFTER ENG FIRST CUT OUT I STARTED ON MY RESTART PROCS WITH NO RESULTS. AT THAT POINT I FELT I WAS TOO LOW FOR FURTHER ACTION; SO I SET UP FOR MY EMER LNDG IN A FARM FIELD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO PLT OF ACFT. IT WAS FLOWN OUT THE NEXT DAY. CORRECTIVE ACTION: I WILL MAKE A MORE COMPLETE PREFLT OF THE ACFT; AND TAKE MORE TIME IN DOING SO. I WILL NEVER GO BY FUEL GAUGE INDICATIONS; ONLY BY WHAT I CAN SEE IN THE TANKS. I WILL; WHEN IN DOUBT; ADD MORE FUEL; NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE IS AT MY DEP POINT. I FEEL PLTS NEED MORE INSTRUCTION ON EMER PROCS; AND NEED TO KNOW THEM BETTER TO PASS CHKRIDES. I'M NOT BLAMING ANYONE FOR MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT MYSELF. IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A FORCED LNDG THAN WHEN YOU'RE JUST SIMULATING ONE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: 4 FUEL TANKS INVOLVED. RPTR CHKED MAINS AND WAS ASSURED; THOUGH LOW; THERE WAS ENOUGH TO FLY TO ARPT A FEW MI AWAY TO PICK UP PAX AND REFUEL AT THAT TIME. ONCE IN COCKPIT; SAW THAT TIP TANK GAUGES SHOWED FULL. SWITCHED TO TIP TANK. WHEN ENG BEGAN TO FALTER; PLT THOUGHT PROB WAS FROM WATER IN FUEL SINCE HE HAD; DURING PREVIOUS WKS; NEEDED TO DRAIN TO CLEAR TANKS OF WATER. NEVER OCCURRED TO HIM GAUGES MIGHT BE AT FAULT. HE SWITCHED TO THE OTHER TIP TANK. FAA INVESTIGATION AND INTERVIEW DETERMINED ACTUAL FUEL ON BOARD COMPLIED WITH FAR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS. ONLY FAULT FOUND WAS PLT DID NOT HAVE HIS CERTIFICATE WITH HIM. INFO FORWARDED TO LAWYERS. HAS RECEIVED LATTER INDICATING NO FURTHER ACTION. CAUSE: FUEL MISMANAGEMENT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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