CEN19LA063

The pilot reported that she departed on the aerial observation flight with about 40 gallons of fuel on board. The airplane flew for about 4 hours 24 minutes and was at an altitude of about 5,300 ft mean sea level when it started to shake, and the engine rpm dropped to about 900. The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, she would select either the left or right fuel tank to equalize the fuel in the tanks. After the engine lost power, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve to both and attempted to restore engine power without success. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a gravel road. During the forced landing, the airplane bounced and veered off the road and into a field; the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged when the airplane nosed over. The first responders reported that, immediately after the accident, fuel was leaking from the right fuel tank but not the left fuel tank. After the airplane was righted, the left fuel tank was found empty, and 4 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank. It is unknown how much fuel leaked out while the airplane was inverted. A review of the pilot's operating handbook for the airplane make and model noted that the fuel tanks have a total capacity of 43 gallons of fuel (3 gallons of unusable fuel) and that, when properly configured, fuel consumption would be between 6.4 and 7.3 gallons per hour. The pilot reported that based on experience, she could get 5.5 hours of flight on full fuel tanks. An engine test run and an examination of the airframe and related systems did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. Because fuel was recovered from the right fuel tank and not from the left and a successful engine test run was conducted, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation.

On January 20, 2019, about 1330 central standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N99308, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Aguilares, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Skylens, LLC. The aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan was filed for the flight. The local flight departed Laredo International Airport (LRD), Laredo, Texas, about 0906 and was en route to return to LRD.Due to the government furlough, neither the National Transportation Safety Board, nor the FAA responded to the accident site. According to the pilot, she was conducting an aerial photography flight. The pilot reported that she departed with about 40 gallons of fuel, with the fuel selector valve selected for both fuel tanks. She added that during straight and level flight, she switched the fuel selector valve to the slower-burning tank, and then after about 2 hours she switched it back to both. The pilot monitored the difference in consumption for the remainder of the flight, changing tanks as needed to keep it balanced. The pilot added that based upon experience, she had fuel for about 5.5 hours of flight on full fuel tanks. The airplane was at an altitude of 5,300 ft mean sea level when the airplane began shaking and the engine rpm dropped to about 900. The pilot recalled that she moved the fuel selector valve from one side to both and attempted to restore engine power by adjusting the fuel mixture control and the engine throttle control, with no improvement. The pilot stated that she pitched the nose of the airplane down for best glide speed and prepared for a forced landing to a gravel road. During the forced landing, the airplane bounced and veered off the road and into a field. As the nose landing gear came down, it stuck in the grass, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The first responders reported to the FAA inspector that immediately after the accident, fuel was leaking from the right fuel tank but not the left fuel tank. After the airplane was righted, about 4 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank and the left fuel tank was empty. It is unknown how much fuel, if any, leaked out while the airplane was inverted. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook for the Cessna 172P, the fuel tanks have a total capacity of 43 gallons of fuel; 3 gallons of unusable fuel. The review also noted under Cruise Performance, if properly leaned, the fuel consumption is between 6.4 and 7.3 gallons of fuel per hour. The airframe, engine, and related systems were later examined under the auspices of an FAA inspector. The engine test run was conducted; the engine started without hesitation and ran at various power settings. The FAA inspector reportedthat there were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operations.