CEN20LA397

According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled with 22-23 gallons of fuel before he departed, and the airplane’s fuel consumption rate was about 6 gallons of fuel per hour. He had been airborne about 4 hours and was approaching his destination when the engine sputtered and lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing into rough terrain and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed minimal fuel was onboard, with no leaks of the fuel system. No preimpact anomalies were observed during examination of the engine. The pilot’s preflight planning notes indicated he considered a fuel stop prior to the destination. After the accident, the pilot stated that the onboard fuel quantity indicating system was unreliable and a fuel stop may have been warranted. The pilot’s decision to proceed to the destination without a fuel stop likely resulted in a total loss of engine power due to exhaustion of usable fuel.

On September 16, 2020, about 1253 central daylight time, an amateur-built Zenith CH 750 airplane, N4744M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Montgomery City, Missouri. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot planned the flight from Kyle-Oakley Field Airport (CEY) Murray, Kentucky to Mexico Memorial Airport, Mexico (MYJ), Missouri. The pilot was making the first long cross-country flight in the airplane and estimated 22-23 gallons of fuel were onboard, with an expected fuel consumption rate of about 6 gallons per hour. After departing CEY about 0958, the engine sputtered and lost total power while approaching MYJ about 1251. The pilot made a forced landing into a bean field and the airplane nosed over, which damaged both wings and tail. Examination of the airplane at the accident site the next day revealed all fuel lines were intact and undamaged, with no smell of fuel noticed. While the airplane was inverted, the right fuel tank cap was removed, and no fuel was observed. During recovery of the airplane four days after the accident, minimal fuel was noticed in the fuel lines and none of the soybean crops near the airplane were blighted. At the recovery location, about ¼ cup of fuel was drained from the fuel strainer, with no indication of water. Both fuel tanks were refilled and held about 12 gallons in each tank, which was consistent with the flight manual. The fuel was drained, with no contamination noticed. No preimpact anomalies were observed during examination of the engine. Review of the pilot’s handwritten flight notes revealed he considered a fuel stop between CEY and MYJ. Following the flight, the pilot stated the onboard fuel quantity indicating system was unreliable and that a fuel stop may have been warranted. Additionally, a new carburetor was installed about four months prior to the accident and the fuel consumption rate had not been verified with the new carburetor installed.