NYC97LA114

According to the pilot, when the airplane departed, the fuel selector was selected to the left fuel tank and the left fuel gauge was indicating 1/2 full. The right fuel gauge was indicating full. While in cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot immediately switched the fuel selector position to the right fuel tank. The engine resumed making power for a few seconds and then lost power again. The pilot then switched the fuel selector back to the left tank. The airplane's engine power continued to fluctuate and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. Significant brown staining of vegetation underneath the left wing was noted. There was virtually no staining of vegetation located underneath the right wing. The engine performed satisfactorily during a post accident test run.

On June 15, 1997, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8F, N1894B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near New Town, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Morgantown Airport (O03), Morgantown, Pennsylvania, about 1220, destined for the Flying W Airport (N14), Lumberton, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said he departed N14 for O03, earlier in the day, and "topped off" both tanks before the flight. The pilot arrived at O03, where his son boarded the airplane. They then flew the airplane "around the pattern" three times, landed, and the pilot's son deplaned. The pilot then departed O03 for the return flight to N14, and stated "The fuel selector was still on the left tank and the fuel gauge was reading 1/2. The right fuel gauge was still reading full..."

According to the pilot, he was cruising at 2,500 feet msl, at a speed of 110 mph, and using a power setting of 2400 rpm when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot further stated:

"...I immediately switched to the right fuel tank. The engine resumed making power for a few seconds and then lost power again. I switched the left tank back on [and] the loss of power problem continued. The engine would essentially quit, like fuel starvation for 3 or 4 seconds, then get fuel and make full power for 3 or four seconds..."

The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, in a attempt to avoid trees, the pilot steered the aircraft into a hay field. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The inspector noted significant brown staining of vegetation underneath the left wing. There was virtually no staining of vegetation located underneath the right wing. The engine performed satisfactorily during a post accident test run.