SINTON, TX, USA
N7290S
Cessna 150H
During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot visually noted each wing fuel tank was 1/2 full and the fuel quantity gauges indicated 3/4 full. The pilot flew to an airport 27 nautical miles away, and performed one touch-and-go landing. During the return flight, the pilot observed that the right fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 1/4 full and the left fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 3/4 full. Upon arrival, the pilot performed a touch-and-go landing on runway 32, and during the takeoff, climbing through 300 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and attempted a 180 degree turn toward the airport. Subsequently, the airplane touched down, went over a gravel road and stopped in a ditch, 750 feet short of the approach end of runway 14. The operator drained the remaining fuel out of both fuel tank sump drains, for a total of 1 3/4 gallons of fuel. The unusable fuel quantity of this make and model airplane is 3.5 gallons.
On December 27, 1999, at 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N7290S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sinton, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Sky Park Aviation, Inc., of Sinton, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from the San Patricio County Airport, Sinton, Texas, at 1610. According to the 141-hour pilot, during the pre-flight inspection, he visually noted each wing fuel tank was 1/2 full and the fuel quantity gauges indicated 3/4 full. The pilot departed San Patricio County Airport and flew to Aransas County Airport, Rockport, Texas, 27 nautical miles away, and performed one touch-and-go landing. During the return flight to Sinton, the pilot observed that the right fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 1/4 full and the left fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 3/4 full. At San Patricio County Airport, the pilot performed a touch-and-go landing on runway 32, and during the takeoff, climbing through 300 feet agl., the engine lost power The pilot initiated a forced landing, and attempted a 180 degree turn toward the airport. Subsequently, the airplane touched down, went over a gravel road and stopped in a ditch, 750 feet short of the approach end of runway 14. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the right wing spar was structurally damaged, the fuselage was "split," and the nose gear was collapsed. The operator drained the remaining fuel out of both fuel tank sump drains, for a total of 1 3/4 gallons of fuel. The airplane's total fuel tank capacity is 26 gallons, the useable fuel quantity is 22.5 gallons, and the unusable fuel quantity is 3.5 gallons.
The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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