Narrative:

The incident that took place was a forced landing due to fuel starvation in the header tank. I believe it was caused by an incorrect design of the fuel vent system, that led to a vacuum in the fuel tanks rather than pressure. On the first test flight, I noticed an out of rig problem with the elevator. This was handleable with airspeed and power. I practices slow flight above the airport and then started to do low approachs, with the option of landing. After 3 attempts I had the sink rate and attitude necessary by varying airspeed. I took my time to better familiarize myself with the aircraft, having enough fuel for 3+ hours flight. The next approach did not feel just right, so I elected to go around. On the final approach as I eased off the power above the runway I brought the nose up with elevator, but with the airspeed high the aircraft started to climb. Rather than force it back on the runway, I elected to communication back for another approach. At 800' AGL the engine quit suddenly. I established the best glide possible, tried engine restart procedures and finally elected to bring the gear up and land in a clear field while maintaining controled airspeed. No property damage or personal injuries resulted. After checking my pilot's certificate, I noticed my medical was expired. You hardly even look at them until they are needed. I think all medicals should expire the month of the holders birthday so as to make it easier and more foolproof in avoiding the possibility of a lapse in certificate. This should eliminate any forgetfulness.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA OFF ARPT LNDG DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: THE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE WAS A FORCED LNDG DUE TO FUEL STARVATION IN THE HEADER TANK. I BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY AN INCORRECT DESIGN OF THE FUEL VENT SYS, THAT LED TO A VACUUM IN THE FUEL TANKS RATHER THAN PRESSURE. ON THE FIRST TEST FLT, I NOTICED AN OUT OF RIG PROB WITH THE ELEVATOR. THIS WAS HANDLEABLE WITH AIRSPD AND PWR. I PRACTICES SLOW FLT ABOVE THE ARPT AND THEN STARTED TO DO LOW APCHS, WITH THE OPTION OF LNDG. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS I HAD THE SINK RATE AND ATTITUDE NECESSARY BY VARYING AIRSPD. I TOOK MY TIME TO BETTER FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE ACFT, HAVING ENOUGH FUEL FOR 3+ HRS FLT. THE NEXT APCH DID NOT FEEL JUST RIGHT, SO I ELECTED TO GO AROUND. ON THE FINAL APCH AS I EASED OFF THE PWR ABOVE THE RWY I BROUGHT THE NOSE UP WITH ELEVATOR, BUT WITH THE AIRSPD HIGH THE ACFT STARTED TO CLB. RATHER THAN FORCE IT BACK ON THE RWY, I ELECTED TO COM BACK FOR ANOTHER APCH. AT 800' AGL THE ENG QUIT SUDDENLY. I ESTABLISHED THE BEST GLIDE POSSIBLE, TRIED ENG RESTART PROCS AND FINALLY ELECTED TO BRING THE GEAR UP AND LAND IN A CLR FIELD WHILE MAINTAINING CTLED AIRSPD. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURIES RESULTED. AFTER CHKING MY PLT'S CERTIFICATE, I NOTICED MY MEDICAL WAS EXPIRED. YOU HARDLY EVEN LOOK AT THEM UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED. I THINK ALL MEDICALS SHOULD EXPIRE THE MONTH OF THE HOLDERS BIRTHDAY SO AS TO MAKE IT EASIER AND MORE FOOLPROOF IN AVOIDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A LAPSE IN CERTIFICATE. THIS SHOULD ELIMINATE ANY FORGETFULNESS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.