BFO96LA020

The flight instructor (CFI) stated that before flight, he performed the airplane preflight inspection, and he estimated the total fuel on board was 12 gallons. He and the student pilot flew in the local area for approximately 50 minutes, then returned to the airport to practice touch and go landings. During the initial climb after a touch and go landing, the airplane lost engine power. The CFI stated that the airplane was approximately 100 feet AGL when the power loss occurred, and he made a forced landing in a soft, plowed field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. An FAA Inspector stated that there was no evidence of spilled fuel, and the fuel tanks were not compromised. He drained 3 3/4 gallons of aviation fuel total from both wing tanks. The POH indicated that the airplane fuel system had a capacity of 38 gallons of fuel, of which 3 gallons were unuseable. The airplane manual also stated that '...in certain flight maneuvers, the fuel may move away from the fuel tank supply outlet...fuel flow to the engine may be interrupted....'

On November 3, 1995, at 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150F, N7089F, experienced a loss of engine power while conducting practice landings at the Andy Barnhart Memorial Airport, New Carlisle, Ohio. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported no injuries. The airplane was destroyed when it nosed over during the subsequent forced landing. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from New Carlisle, Ohio, at about 1030 eastern standard time.

The CFI stated that during the preflight check, he used a dipstick to determine the amount of fuel in the fuel tanks. Based on the fuel stain on the dipstick, he estimated that the airplane had 12 gallons of fuel on board. The CFI reported that he and the student pilot practiced airwork in the local area, then returned to the airport to practice touch and go landings. The CFI stated that they had been flying for about fifty minutes when the airplane engine lost power during climb out after the second touch and go landing. He stated that he was handling the flight controls when the loss of engine power occurred, at approximately 100 feet above ground level. The CFI made a forced landing in a soggy plowed field. The airplane touched down perpendicular to the 1 to 2 foot plowed troughs, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane was equipped with long range wing tanks. Each tank held 19 gallons for a total capacity of 38 gallons. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) stated that of that 38 gallons of fuel, approximately 3 gallons are unusable. The airplane owner kept a logbook to track fuel usage and engine tachometer time. According to the airplane owner's calculations, based on logbook fuel and tachometer information, the airplane should have had approximately 2.4 gallons total in the fuel tanks when it lost power. The owner reported he used a fuel burn rate of 6 gallons per hour, and the tach times for all flights prior to and including the mishap flight, in his calculations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated that after he moved the airplane to an upright position, he observed that the integrity of the fuel tanks was not compromised and that there was no spillage of fuel. He further stated that he was able to drain a total of 3 3/4 gallons from both wing tanks combined. He stated that he did not find any fuel stains on the airplane nor did he notice any evidence of leakage from the tanks, fuel lines and the fuel cap area.

In Cessna's Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements handbook, in the fuel management section, it states, "The shape of most airplane wing tanks is such that in certain flight maneuvers, the fuel may move away from the fuel tank supply outlet. If the outlet is uncovered, fuel flow to the engine may be interrupted and a temporary loss of power might result."