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C185 pilot reported a power loss in cruise and elected to land in a field. He attributed the power loss to low fuel level; inaccurate fuel gauges and turbulence. The aircraft was lightly damaged by brush in the field.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1400789 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201610 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Skywagon 185 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Route In Use | Direct Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Reciprocating Engine Assembly |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 257 Flight Crew Total 5260 Flight Crew Type 84 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Ground Event / Encounter Object Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Due to a reduction in power I was unable to maintain altitude so I landed in a pasture. While taxiing in the pasture I struck a small brush oak that I was unable to see until it was too late. The small brush oak caused damage to the left wheel pant and the right horizontal [stabilizer] and elevator. The lighting systems on the aircraft should be improved. The fuel flow meter and fuel quantity gauges should be re-calibrated. I now believe the loss of power was due to the turbulent air combined with the low fuel levels. This condition caused air to be drawn into the fuel lines resulting in loss of power. I believe I should not have trusted the fuel gauges or the fuel flow gauge.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C185 pilot reported a power loss in cruise and elected to land in a field. He attributed the power loss to low fuel level; inaccurate fuel gauges and turbulence. The aircraft was lightly damaged by brush in the field.
Narrative: Due to a reduction in power I was unable to maintain altitude so I landed in a pasture. While taxiing in the pasture I struck a small brush oak that I was unable to see until it was too late. The small brush oak caused damage to the left wheel pant and the right horizontal [stabilizer] and elevator. The lighting systems on the aircraft should be improved. The fuel flow meter and fuel quantity gauges should be re-calibrated. I now believe the loss of power was due to the turbulent air combined with the low fuel levels. This condition caused air to be drawn into the fuel lines resulting in loss of power. I believe I should not have trusted the fuel gauges or the fuel flow gauge.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.