MIA99LA118

While approaching the destination airport, the engine lost power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and a forced landing was made in a clear area. The pilot stated to a Sheriff's Deputy after the accident that he had underestimated the amount of fuel in the aircraft and the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. Post crash examination of the aircraft and crash site by a Sheriff's Deputy and an FAA Inspector showed the aircraft contained no usable fuel and there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident. An onboard fuel flow/fuel pressure instrument showed the aircraft had one gallon of fuel remaining at the time of the accident and the low fuel warning was illuminated. Lycoming Engines performance charts show the engine consumes 13.9 gallons per hour at 2,400 rpm, 65% power, and leaned for best economy. The flight had departed with 34 gallons of fuel and the engine quit after 2 hours and 30 minutes of flight. The fuel consumption estimation for this leg was about 13.6 gallons per hour.

On April 7, 1999, about 1533 eastern daylight time, a Steve Hill Staudacher S600, N600SH, registered to an individual, crashed while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Bunnell, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight last departed from Dalton, Georgia, at about 1300.

The pilot stated he departed Danville, Kentucky, about 1115, with full fuel tanks, and made a 20-to 30-minute fuel stop at Dalton, Georgia, where he again filled the fuel tanks. He departed shortly after paying for the fuel. While approaching his destination airport, Flagler County Airport, about 1515, his onboard engine performance computer showed there was about 6 gallons of fuel remaining. About 15 minutes later, the engine quit. Attempts to restart it were unsuccessful and he attempted to make it to the destination airport. When he realized he would not make the airport he made a forced landing in a clear area, north of the airport. There was no usable fuel in the aircraft after the forced landing.

Examination of the crash site and aircraft by a deputy from the Flagler County Sheriff's Department showed there was no usable fuel in the aircraft and no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident. After the accident, the pilot stated to this deputy that he had underestimated the amount of fuel he had left in the airplane, and due to lack of fuel the engine seized. (See the Sheriff's Department Report)

Examination of the crash site and aircraft by an FAA inspector was conducted on the morning of April 8, 1999, about 0829. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks and both fuel tanks were ruptured at the pickup for the header tank. About 1 pint of fuel was found in the header tank. There was no fuel odor and no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident. (See the FAA Inspector Statement)

A representative of Carpet Aviation, Dalton, Georgia, stated that records showed N600SH was fueled with 21.5 gallons of fuel on April 7, 1999, and that the fuel was paid for at 1253.

The Electronics International, Inc., Fuel Flow/Pressure Instrument, model FP-5, serial number 17453, was removed from N600SH after the accident by an FAA inspector and sent to an FAA inspector in Hillsboro, Oregon. This FAA inspector took the instrument to the manufacturer's facility in Hillsboro, on July 20, 1999. Upon power-up of the instrument, the fuel remaining was noted to be 1 gallon and the red low fuel limit warning light was blinking. The FP-5 was set to display in British Imperial Gallons. (See the FAA Inspector Statement and Electronics International, Inc. Report)

Fuel consumption charts for the Lycoming IO-540-K engine, which were obtained from Lycoming, show that the engine operating at 2,400 rpm and 65 percent power, leaned for best fuel economy, will consume 13.9 gallons per hour. The pilot stated he departed Danville, Kentucky at about 1115, with full fuel tanks, and landed at Dalton, Georgia. The estimated landing time at Dalton was 1240. The elapsed time was about 1 hour 25 minutes. The aircraft was fueled with 21.5 gallons to fill the tanks. The estimated fuel consumption for this leg was about 15.1 gallons per hour. The flight departed Dalton about 1300, and the engine failed about 1530. The estimated fuel consumption for this leg was 13.6 gallons per hour. (See the Lycoming fuel consumption chart)