CEN22LA355

While en route to his home airport, the student pilot reported that the engine rpm momentarily decreased. When the engine rpm decreased a second time, he reported to air traffic control that he had engine issues. The student pilot applied carburetor heat, and engine power was restored, but shortly thereafter the engine lost total power. Unable to reach the destination airport, the student pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees and a fence line, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed both the left and right fuel tanks were empty when checked with a dipstick and no fuel came out when either tank was sumped. About 7 ounces of fuel was sumped from the fuel strainer and an additional empty water bottle of fuel was drained from the bottom of the engine after the airplane was recovered. After the accident the engine started and ran for about 10 minutes before it quit. Fuel range and endurance calculations were performed using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and the student pilot’s statements. The student pilot had fully fueled the airplane on the morning of the accident and departed to another airport to meet with a flight instructor for several flights. The total flight time was calculated to be about 4 hours. The student reported using a full rich mixture setting during the flight and estimated the airplane consumed about 6 gallons per hour. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 26 gallons of which 22.5 gallons were listed as being usable. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with fuel exhaustion. The fact that the engine started and ran on residual fuel in the fuel system is evidence that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation of the engine during the flight.

On July 30, 2022, about 1450 central daylight time, a Cessna 150E airplane, N6212Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Marshall, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The student pilot reported that while en route to his home airport, the engine rpm momentarily decreased. When the engine rpm decreased a second time, he reported to air traffic control that he had engine issues. The student pilot pulled carburetor heat and engine power was restored, but shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. Unable to make it to the destination airport, the student pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout the airplane collided with trees and a fence line, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Examination of the airframe by a responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector found both the left and right fuel tanks were empty when checked with a dipstick and no fuel came out when either tank was sumped. About 7 ounces of fuel was sumped from the fuel strainer. The student pilot reported that after the airplane was moved to a hangar, he was able to drain an additional empty water bottle of fuel from the bottom of the engine. He also reported that he started the engine and that it ran for about 10 minutes before it quit. Fuel range and endurance calculations were performed using ADS-B data and the student pilot’s statements. He had fully fueled the airplane the morning of the accident and departed to another airport to meet with an instructor. The student and instructor performed several takeoffs and landings and airwork. The instructor then flew the airplane solo for several takeoffs and landings. The student pilot was signed off for a solo flight and the accident occurred on the student pilot’s return leg to his home airport. The total flight time since fueling the airplane was calculated to be about 4 hours. The student reported using full rich for the mixture during flight and estimated the airplane consumed about 6 gallons per hour. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 26 gallons, of which 22.5 gallons were listed as being usable.