GA SMA FORCED OFF ARPT LNDG DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

1988-08 · NASA ASRS report 92831

Date: 1988-08 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|other-unspecified

Synopsis

GA SMA FORCED OFF ARPT LNDG DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Narrative

FERRY FLT OF NEW EXPERIMENTAL ACFT FROM DE FUNIAK SPRINGS; FL; TO SAN ANTONIO; TX. SELLER DID NOT INFORM BUYER THAT FUEL GAUGES INDICATED EXCESSIVELY HIGH WHEN REALLY EMPTY. SELLER DID NOT TELL BUYER THAT HE HAD PUT A NEW CLB PROP INSTEAD OF PAST CRUISE PROP ON ACFT. ACFT BURNED AT LEAST 26 GALS IN 2 HOURS; 8 MINS WITH A STANDARD ENG WITH 80 HRS ON NEW MAJOR ON IT. TOOK OFF ON FLT PLAN AT XX08 CENTRAL TIME. CRUISED 2400 RPM AT 6500' ALL THE WAY TO JUST S OF LAFAYETTE; LA; WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS AT 2 HRS THAT MY PLANNED 2 HR; 54 MIN FLT TO GALVESTON WITH A 1+ HR OF FUEL RESERVE WAS NOT GOING TO WORK. DECIDED TO DIVERT TO LAKE CHARLES; LA; AND RIGHT TANK WENT DRY WITH JUST UNDER 1/2 TANK INDICATING AND 1 HR FLYING TIME ON THAT TANK. SWITCHED TO LEFT TANK (1/4 FUEL INDICATED) AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO CLOSEST FIELD. RECEIVED A 15 NM VECTOR TO JENNINGS; LA. RAN FOR 3 MINS; THEN STARTED TO LOSE THRUST AGAIN AND STARTED TO SET UP A GLIDE. SINCE THE CITY WAS IN BTWN ME AND THE ARPT I DECIDED TO LAND PRIOR. I SPOTTED AN OLD AG STRIP BY A FARM; BUT COULDN'T BE SURE OF THE CONDITIONS; SO I LANDED PERPENDICULAR TO IT ON A DIRT ROAD. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE AT ALL. THE FARMER CAME AND MOWED THE FIELD AND I RECEIVED GAS FROM THE ARPT AND FLEW OUT AFTER FILLING OUT PAPERWORK WITH THE LCL AUTHORITIES.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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