MIA00LA078

The pilot stated that he only performed 'rough' fuel consumption calculations and did not obtain winds aloft for the 6 leg cross-country flight. After landing following the fifth leg, the pilot reportedly used a dipstick and determined that each tank contained approximately 1/2 capacity; 10 gallons of fuel were added. The flight departed at 1655, to return and while flying at 3,000 feet mean sea level, the engine began surging. The pilot declared an emergency at 1843, and executed a forced landing in a field. The airplane nosed over after touchdown. During recovery of the airplane a total of approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel was drained from the fuel tanks after removal of the wings. Post accident the fuel transmitters were examined with no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The engine was started and operated to 1,700 rpm with no discrepancies noted; the engine was not operated higher due to safety concerns.

On January 29, 2000, about 1852 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N94999, registered to Euro Flight, operated by Orlando Flight Training, Inc., nosed over during a forced landing near Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1140 from the Kissimmee Municipal Airport, Kissimmee, Florida.

The pilot stated that he did not obtain winds aloft for the flights and he only performed "rough", fuel consumption calculations. The accident occurred during the sixth and final leg of a cross-county flight. The first leg lasted 40 minutes, was flown at 2,000 feet and 2,300 rpm, and the mixture was leaned. The second leg lasted 50 minutes, was flown at 3,000 feet and 2,300 rpm, and the mixture was leaned. The third leg lasted 30 minutes, was flown at 2,000-2,500 feet and 2,300 rpm, and the mixture was again leaned. The fourth leg lasted 20 minutes, was flown at a minimum altitude of 1,500 feet nearly full rpm, and the mixture was full rich. The fifth leg lasted 30 minutes, was flown 2,500 feet and 2,300-2,400 rpm, and the mixture was leaned. All five legs ended with full stop landings. After landing following the fifth leg, the pilot reported that he dipped both fuel tanks using a "proper" plastic fuel dipstick for the Cessna 152 airplane. The dipstick indicated slightly over 1/2 fuel capacity remaining in both fuel tanks; a total of 10.02 gallons of fuel were added. This was the only fuel purchased by the pilot. The flight departed at 1655 on the last leg of the cross-country flight and climbed to 4,000 feet mean sea level where he leaned the fuel/air ratio. The flight continued and when past Lake Wales, he descended to 3,000 feet mean seal level where the flight remained until the engine began surging. He pumped the throttle noting that the engine responded momentarily with each throttle application, declared a Mayday, and initiated a descent flying towards the airport. Realizing that he was unable to land there, he landed in a field with the flaps partially extended, and during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The accident flight lasted approximately 1 hour 58 minutes. The pilot further reported that his leaning procedure consisted of reducing the mixture control until he hears a change in engine sound then enrichen slightly.

The pilot was determined to have declared the Mayday at 1843; the last radar return of the accident airplane was at 1852:28, when the flight was at 100 feet. At that time the airplane was approximately 4 nautical miles from his destination airport.

Examination of the accident site by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane was inverted in a field. The nose landing gear was broken off and impact damage to the left wing caused by a fence post was noted. Additionally, there was no evidence of fuel leakage on the ground and there was no evidence of fuel leakage aft of the fuel caps. Visually, the left wing fuel tank was empty and the right wing fuel tank appeared to contain 1 cup of fuel. According to the airframe and powerplant rated mechanic who recovered the airplane, about 1/2 gallon of fuel was drained when the wings were removed and about 1 cup of fuel was drained when pushing the airplane onto a trailer.

After recovery of the airplane, the fuel quantity transmitters were examined with no discrepancies noted; fuel was noted in the carburetor bowl and in the gascolator. A hose was connected to the carburetor inlet to attempt to start the engine. The engine was started and operated to 1,700 rpm where the engine run was stopped due to safety concerns; no roughness during the engine run was noted.