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AC50 pilot experiences fuel exhaustion four minutes short of his destination and lands on a dirt road. Fuel gauge showed 56 gallons with empty tanks and fuel consumption estimates indicated nearly one more hour of fuel available.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1042904 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201210 |
| 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 | Aero Commander 500 Series |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Powerplant Fuel System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300 Flight Crew Total 8500 Flight Crew Type 300 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
Narrative:
On preflight of AC50 60 gallons fuel showed on gauge; previous flight in aircraft was 3.6 from a 5 hour fuel supply. Aircraft holds 159 gallons total with an estimated fuel burn of 30 gph from poh and this coincided with fuel gauge. No other way to verify fuel. [We] took off from ZZZ to an uncontrolled airport then back to ZZZ. Approximate flight time 45 minutes had fuel exhaustion 2 NM from ZZZ. After 0.6 hour flight gauge showed 56 gallons on board. [We] executed off airport landing on dirt road. No injuries or damage to aircraft. Mechanic verified fuel exhaustion and we refueled to 45 gallons. Took off and flew directly to ZZZ approximate flight of 4 minutes. Possible reasons for fuel exhaustion. Improper leaning on 3.6 hours flight and improper fueling techniques; fuel gauge not working correctly. All pilots will note gauge indication prior to fueling verifying accuracy of gauge.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AC50 pilot experiences fuel exhaustion four minutes short of his destination and lands on a dirt road. Fuel gauge showed 56 gallons with empty tanks and fuel consumption estimates indicated nearly one more hour of fuel available.
Narrative: On preflight of AC50 60 gallons fuel showed on gauge; previous flight in aircraft was 3.6 from a 5 hour fuel supply. Aircraft holds 159 gallons total with an estimated fuel burn of 30 GPH from POH and this coincided with fuel gauge. No other way to verify fuel. [We] took off from ZZZ to an uncontrolled airport then back to ZZZ. Approximate flight time 45 minutes had fuel exhaustion 2 NM from ZZZ. After 0.6 hour flight gauge showed 56 gallons on board. [We] executed off airport landing on dirt road. No injuries or damage to aircraft. Mechanic verified fuel exhaustion and we refueled to 45 gallons. Took off and flew directly to ZZZ approximate flight of 4 minutes. Possible reasons for fuel exhaustion. Improper leaning on 3.6 hours flight and improper fueling techniques; fuel gauge not working correctly. All pilots will note gauge indication prior to fueling verifying accuracy of gauge.
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.