IAD96LA144

While returning from a round trip, cross-country flight, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, & performed a forced landing to a grass field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The HOBBS meter reading indicated the airplane had been operated for 5.4 hrs. The pilot said he departed knowing he was pushing the envelope for fuel, but he figured he had enough to get home, since the left tank fuel quantity was above 1/4 & the right tank fuel quantity showed above zero. The airplane had a supplemental type certificate for use of automotive gasoline. The pilot said he did not refuel the airplane during the trip because his flight instructor told him to use automotive gasoline only. He was told automotive gasoline was unavailable at his points of landing; however, aviation gasoline was available. The pilot was not aware of the compatibility between automotive & aviation gasoline. The airplane was examined by an FAA Inspector; according to his report, fuel was found in a line between the gascolator & carburetor. At least 1 gal of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank & 2 or 3 cups of fuel leaked out of the left fuel tank. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed pulsing out of the fuel vent tube. No preimpact failure of the engine or airframe was reported. The airplane's fuel capacity was 26 gal, of which 3.5 gal were unusable.

On September 6, 1996, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6632G, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight in the vicinity of Hope, Maine. The airplane was substantially damaged went it nosed over during the ensuing forced landing. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which originated at Portland, Maine about 1800, destined for Belfast, Maine. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated, he had flown from Belfast (BST) to Portland (PWM), then to Greenville (3B1), Maine back to PWM. He described the flights as "pleasant and uneventful." The pilot then departed PWM for the return flight to BST. During the flight, while cruising at 3,500 feet MSL, the engine lost total power over the town of Hope, Maine. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted at an angle, with the nose and leading edge of the wings on the grass.

In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector the pilot stated, the engine suddenly stopped without warning. After the engine failure, he immediately applied carburetor heat, and performed a magneto check with no response from the engine. He pumped the throttle and primer with little response from the engine. The pilot also stated, he departed Portland knowing he was pushing the envelope on fuel, and figured he had enough to get home because the left tank fuel quantity was above 1/4, and the right tank fuel quantity showed above zero.

The HOBBS meter reading at the accident site revealed the airplane had been operated for 5.4 hours.

The pilot did not refuel during the trip. The airplane had a supplemental type certificate for the use of automotive gasoline. The pilot stated, he attempted to refuel at Greenville, and Portland, and was told automotive gasoline was unavailable. Aviation gasoline was sold at Greenville, and Portland. The pilot reported he had been told to use automotive gasoline only by his flight instructor, and he was not aware of the compatibility between automotive gasoline and aviation gasoline.

The wreckage was examined by an FAA Inspector the following morning. According to his report, fuel was found in the line which connects the gascolator, and the carburetor. At least 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank, and at least 2 or 3 cups of fuel leaked out of the left fuel tank. Also, an undetermined amount of fuel was observed pulsing out of the fuel vent tube. The report did not indicate any pre-impact failures of the engine or airframe.

According to the Airplane's Information Manual, the total fuel capacity of the airplane was 26 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons were unusable.