A challenger lsa hks 700e engine quit in flight forcing an off field landing which resulted in minor...

Narrative:

En route my next destination flight time about 2.5 hours; cruising 2;800 MSL; 92% power; egt and cht's normal; no traffic; clear conditions. Without warning engine sputtered and stopped; restart attempts unsuccessful. [I made a] precautionary landing in hay field; no personal injuries; no property damage; except aircraft's landing gear damaged. On the ground inspection revealed empty fuel tank and dry gas filter. Airplane had been topped off before departure with sufficient fuel for 4 hours plus 45' reserve. Suspected problem was an en route fuel leak. Before departure; minor repairs to lexan panel done; and also the prop pitch was reduced by 1 degree. Test flew for 0.2 hours and engine performed well. Aircraft was then parked on the ramp in front of the FBO; preflighted; suitcase and camera bag loaded and secured; and 1 quart oil added. There were no fuel leaks either on the plane or on the ramp; and another pilot sitting near the plane; observing me; would have noticed any dripping fuel. Tt on hks 700e engine (and airframe) 274 hours; a thorough annual was completed on may 2012; pilot BFR on april 2012. Jan. 2012; carburetors rebuilt and synchronized; may 2012; cylinder heads cleaned and new gaskets. In numerous previous tests; fuel consumption typically was 3.0 gph (or less) at 90% power; and ranged between 3.1 and 3.3 gph at 95% power; and 3.5 gph at 97%; including taxi; takeoff; and climbout.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Challenger LSA HKS 700e engine quit in flight forcing an off field landing which resulted in minor landing gear damage. The aircraft was airborne 2.5 hours with takeoff fuel for 4.5 hours; so a fuel filter fitting leak is suspected.

Narrative: En route my next destination flight time about 2.5 hours; cruising 2;800 MSL; 92% power; EGT and CHT's normal; no traffic; clear conditions. Without warning engine sputtered and stopped; restart attempts unsuccessful. [I made a] precautionary landing in hay field; no personal injuries; no property damage; except aircraft's landing gear damaged. On the ground inspection revealed empty fuel tank and dry gas filter. Airplane had been topped off before departure with sufficient fuel for 4 hours plus 45' reserve. Suspected problem was an en route fuel leak. Before departure; minor repairs to lexan panel done; and also the prop pitch was reduced by 1 degree. Test flew for 0.2 hours and engine performed well. Aircraft was then parked on the ramp in front of the FBO; preflighted; suitcase and camera bag loaded and secured; and 1 quart oil added. There were no fuel leaks either on the plane or on the ramp; and another pilot sitting near the plane; observing me; would have noticed any dripping fuel. TT on HKS 700e engine (and airframe) 274 hours; a thorough annual was completed on May 2012; pilot BFR on April 2012. Jan. 2012; carburetors rebuilt and synchronized; May 2012; cylinder heads cleaned and new gaskets. In numerous previous tests; fuel consumption typically was 3.0 GPH (or less) at 90% power; and ranged between 3.1 and 3.3 GPH at 95% power; and 3.5 GPH at 97%; including taxi; takeoff; and climbout.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1015771
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Light Sport Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel System
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 31 Flight Crew Total 765 Flight Crew Type 250
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

A challenger lsa hks 700e engine quit in flight forcing an off field landing which resulted in minor landing gear damage. The aircraft was airborne 2.5 hours with takeoff fuel for 4.5 hours; so a fuel filter fitting leak is suspected.