Crescent Lake, OR, USA
N2514N
CESSNA 140
During a cross-country flight, at a cruise altitude of about 7,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the airline transport pilot reported that the engine experienced a total loss of power after he allowed the left wing fuel tank to run empty. He switched fuel tanks but was unable to restart the engine. The pilot realized that the airplane was not within gliding distance of the nearest airport and decided to conduct a forced landing on a nearby road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck several trees and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane established continuity of the fuel system with no anomalies observed. The left wing fuel tank was empty, and the right wing fuel tank was nearly full. A test run of the engine was conducted using the fuel from the right tank. The engine operated normally with no anomalies observed, and the reason for the pilot's inability to restart the engine following the loss of power could not be determined.
On April 30, 2015, about 1947 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2514N, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, near the Crescent Lake State Airport (5S2) Crescent Lake, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport, Medford, Oregon, about 1830, with a destination of Sisters Eagle Air Airport, Sisters, Oregon. The pilot reported that during cruise flight, about 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine lost power after the selected fuel tank was run empty. He switched fuel tanks, and made several attempts to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the pilot realized that he would not be able to make the nearest airport, and initiated a forced landing on a nearby road, about two miles south of 5S2. During the approach and landing roll, the airplane struck several trees but remained upright. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered and further examination of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed the continuity of the fuel from the wing tanks to the engine. The left fuel tank was observed to be empty and the right fuel tank was nearly full. When the right fuel tank was selected, the engine ran normally. No anomalies in the fuel system or fuel selector were noted during the examination. Despite numerous requests to the pilot, he did not provide a completed NTSB Form 6120.1 to the investigator-in-charge.
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to restart the engine for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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