ATL96LA105

During cruise flight the pilot noted a reduction in engine speed. He applied carburetor heat. The engine ran roughly a few minutes, then returned to the previous speed. The pilot indicated that the trip was taking longer than expected because of headwinds. At the destination he requested a practice instrument landing system approach. During the approach the engine sputtered. The pilot reported that at that time the fuel gauges read empty and 1/4, left and right, respectively. The engine subsequently quit and a forced landing was made to a field. The airplane nosed over after the nose wheel struck a furrow. The pilot also stated that he thought there could be a fuel problem because he previously had trouble with the right fuel gauge, and because of the length of this trip. Weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. During a post accident examination of the airplane, only residual fuel was found in the fuel system. However, the airplane was inverted about ten hours prior to its examination, and blue staining was noted on the wings around the fuel vents. Once the airplane was righted and fuel added to the fuel system, the engine operated.

On July 13, 1996, about 1806 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N1637F, nosed over during a forced landing, at Hickory, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An IFR flight plan was filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the private, instrument rated pilot, or his passenger, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Frederick, Maryland, about 1416 the same day.

The pilot suggested in his report that he may have exhausted his fuel supply, or that the engine may have quit because of carburetor ice. The airplane touched down in a hayfield safely, but when the nose wheel caught the third or fourth furrow, it nosed over. The airplane came to rest about 3 miles north of the Hickory Airport, which was his planned fueling destination.

The airplane was found inverted with blue staining on the wing around the fuel tank vent lines. According to the mechanic who examined the airplane, it had been inverted more than ten hours. Engine control settings in the cockpit consisted of the mixture-rich, throttle-full power, carburetor heat-off, magneto switch-off, and master switch-off. The airplane was righted and the fuel gauge readings noted: left-empty, right 1/8. Additional findings were clear fuel vent lines, one ounce of fuel in the sump, and approximately one tablespoon of fuel in the carburetor bowl. Fuel was added to the airplane fuel system and the engine was operated.