20000514015929A

(.4) The pilot was conducting a cross country flight with sever al intermediate stops. He was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet on the last leg of the flight when the airplane sustained a reduction in engine power. He started a left 360-degree turn in preparation for a forced landing, the engine power came back and decreased again. At the 180-degree point in the turn he observed a better forced landing area, he lowered the nose and the power increased again. He reduced the power to the idle position, turned the ignition switch off, applied flaps and started a left slip in order to reach the forced landing area. The airplane was fast and he was concerned about trees at the edge of the forced landing area. He forced the airplane onto the ground hard separating the landing gear, the airplane turned to the left and the right wing tip collided with the ground. Examination of the fuel tank by the pilot revealed no fuel was present in the fuel tank. The pilot stated the fuel burn was this flight was significantly higher than the projected burn which caused the engine to die from fuel starvation. (-23)at approximately 7:45 pm on mat 14, 2000, the single engine, experimental aircraft N942PS, a CH701, made a power off landing in a field just south of hwy 98 near louisburg, NC. The pilot reported that he made the aircraft land early so he could stop before he reached the tree line. He stated that once the aircraft was on the ground he applied the brakes and tried to steer the aircraft to the left. During this time, the right wingtip struck the ground and all three landing gears were sheared off. The nose gear was attached to the firewall, which was also damaged in the landing. The right wing was twisted and dented with the skin buckled. The pilot reported that he believed the engine quit due to fuel starvation. No fuel was found in the aircraft tanks. (.19)on may 14, 2000, at about 1930 EDT, an asselyn CH701, N942PS, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR part 91 personal, experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight in the vicinity of Wake Forrest, north carolina. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field and crashed after amking a hard landing. Visual meteorological conditions preva ialed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The fligth originated form knightdale, north carolina (9NCO), about 13 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he departed louisburg, north carolina, (lhz) at 1810, VFR to a private strip lake ridge aero located in the vicinity of raleigh-durham, north carolina, (W65) arriving at 1850. At 1855, he departed W65 en route to 9NCO, arriving at 1925. At 1927, he departed 9NCO, en route to (lhz). He was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet when the airplane auatained a reduction in engine power. He started a left 360-degree turn in preparation for a forced landing, the engien power came back, and the power decreased again. At about th 180-degree point, he observed a better forced landing area, he lowered the nose and the power increased again. He reduced the throttle to the idle position and turned off the ignition switch, and started a left slip in order to reach the forced landing area. He made a hard landing and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion.