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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

January 13, 2002 · Cessna 150M · N704NY

Clinton, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 13, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Clinton, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 150M
Tail Number
N704NY
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA02LA028

The student pilot reported that prior to departure for the round robin cross country flight, he visually checked the fuel tanks which he estimated to be about 3/4 full. During the return flight, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine with no success. A forced landing was initiated. During the landing roll, the right horizontal stabilizer collided with a fence post. Post accident examination of the fuel tanks revealed that the right fuel tank contained a small amount of fuel, and the left fuel tank was empty. Fueling records and aircraft rental logs found that the aircraft had previously flown 2.2 hours and had not been refueled. The accident flight was 1.6 hours in duration at the time of the loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause

Fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight resulting in a loss of engine power and the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft. The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and a fence post were factors.

Full Narrative

On January 13, 2002, at 1445 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150M, N704NY, registered to and operated by Zephyr Aviation Ltd., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The student pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field near Clinton, Washington. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a fence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Bellingham, Washington, at 1400. In a written statement, the pilot reported that prior to departing from Tacoma, Washington, for the round robin flight to Bellingham, he checked the fuel level by looking in the wing fuel tanks and then sticking his finger in the filler hole where he was able to touch the fuel and approximating that they were about 3/4 full. The pilot then took off for the flight to Bellingham. The pilot reported that he stopped at Bellingham to use the facilities. The pilot then began the return trip without fueling the aircraft. About 45 minutes after departure, the engine quit. The pilot reported that he attempted to restart the engine without success. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the right horizontal stabilizer collided with a fence post. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office and maintenance personnel from Zephyr Aviation responded to the accident site. During the on-site inspection, the left fuel tank was found empty and the right fuel tank contained a small amount of fuel. The fuel strainer contained approximately 3/4 cup of fuel, and the carburetor bowl contained about 1/2 cup of fuel. Fueling records and Zephyr's Aircraft Rental Flight Log indicated that the aircraft was last fueled on January 10, 2002. A 2.2 hour flight was accomplished on January 11, 2002. No fuel was added after this flight. The accident flight flew another 1.6 hours for a total of 3.8 hours flown since the last fueling. The Cessna 150 Owner's Manual indicates that the standard fuel tanks full volume is 26 gallons, with 22.5 gallons useable. The pilot's flight planning log indicated that he estimated using 13.2 gallons for the 212 mile round trip flight, and about two hours and twenty minutes of flight time.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:45 PST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150M
Tail NumberN704NY
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 36 C
Altimeter30.35 inHg
Observation Time22:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data