LAX00LA225

Near the destination airport, the engine lost power. During the attempted forced landing on the airport the pilot landed hard. The pilot had purchased fuel just prior to his departure, having fueled the airplane himself. He stated that he had performed fuel consumption calculations during the flight. As he approached the destination airport, the engine began to run roughly, and abruptly lost all power. The pilot turned toward the airport but was too low and far out to fly a normal pattern. He said he set himself up for the final approach, with a tailwind, for runway 08. He stated he was unable to keep the airplane under control and landed abruptly with no landing flare. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right-hand fuel cap was missing. Also during the postaccident examination of the airplane, upon application of electrical power, both fuel tank quantity indicators registered empty.

On June 13, 2000, at 1750 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N67608, lost power during cruise flight and subsequently landed hard at the Lodi, California, airport. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane, owned and operated by Galvin Flying Service and rented by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot stated he had departed Corona, California, at 1425, and was en route to Lodi.

The pilot stated he departed Corona airport between 1420 and 1430, after he refueled the airplane with 19.53 gallons of 100 LL fuel. He checked his fuel consumption calculations and there did not appear to be anything wrong until the engine "very abruptly" lost rpm and stopped shortly thereafter near Lodi airport. He immediately turned toward the airport, and due to his low altitude and distance from the airport he could only manage a final leg with a tailwind. He was aiming for runway 08 and was unable to keep the airplane totally under control. He said the airplane made a very abrupt landing without a flare, which folded the nose gear and damaged the belly panels.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane at the request of the Safety Board, he noted that the right-hand fuel cap was missing after the accident and both fuel tanks were empty. He stated that when power was applied to the airplane, both fuel tanks indicated empty.