ATL93LA128

The pilot reported that the engine started running roughly while on approach to runway 32. Because he was too high for a safe touchdown and rollout, the pilot attemptied a forced landing to a field adjacent to the airport. During the forced landing, the airplane was damaged. The examination of the airplane and accident site disclosed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks nor was there fuel spilled in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. The airplane was last refueled three weeks prior to this flight, and had flown about two hours prior to this flight. The pilot estimated a total fuel endurance of four and one half hours; the fuel guage indicated about 22 gallons of fuel on board at his last departure. The pilot also reported that, N412NV had a history of venting large quantities of fuel while parked on the ramp. According to the pilot, stoddard-hamilton (glassaire), issued a service bulletin to correct the fuel venting problem; the service bulletin had not been accomplished on N421NV.

On July 14, 1993, at 1535 eastern daylight time, a Brown Glassair SH-2, N412NV, collided with the ground while attempting a forced landing short of the Huggins Memorial Airport, Timmonsville, South Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Monroe, North Carolina, at 1435 hours.

The pilot reported that the engine started running roughly, and subsequently quit while on final approach to runway 32. Since the airplane was too high above the runway for a safe touchdown and roll out, the pilot elected to attempt a forced landing to a planted field adjacent to the runway; the airplane sustained substantial structural damage during the emergency landing.

The subsequent wreckage and accident site examinations failed to disclose the presence of fuel in the tanks; no fuel spillage was noted on the ground at the accident site. During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that N412NV had a history of venting fuel while parked. The pilot also stated that Stoddard-Hamilton (Glassaire) issued a servuce bulletin to correct the fuel venting problem; the service bulletin had not been applied to N412NV. According to the pilot, the airplane was topped with fuel about three weeks before the accident.