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Small aircraft GA pilot reports higher than expected fuel consumption caused 1 tank to experience fuel exhaustion sooner than expected.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 274046 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199406 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : svh |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1850 msl bound upper : 1850 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : clt |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 101 flight time total : 4400 flight time type : 4300 |
| ASRS Report | 274046 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Engine sputtered. Assumed mechanical problem. Auxiliary fuel pump already on (procedure below 2000 ft AGL). Checked carburetor heat, mixture, throttle, primer. Then assumed fuel supply problem and switched tanks. Engine ran fine (2 mins). While this happened I went to 121.5, set up in FLIP/flop radio and contacted clt tower. Also set up for maximum glide and emergency landing (service road). Problem is fuel burn/consumption 1/3 higher than normal causing tank to dry approximately 45 mins early. We're examining plane now. Appears tachometer off 150 RPM. Sustained below 3000 ft operation. I manage fuel by clock. In 5 mins tank was scheduled to switch!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA GA PLT RPTS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED FUEL CONSUMPTION CAUSED 1 TANK TO EXPERIENCE FUEL EXHAUSTION SOONER THAN EXPECTED.
Narrative: ENG SPUTTERED. ASSUMED MECHANICAL PROB. AUX FUEL PUMP ALREADY ON (PROC BELOW 2000 FT AGL). CHKED CARB HEAT, MIXTURE, THROTTLE, PRIMER. THEN ASSUMED FUEL SUPPLY PROB AND SWITCHED TANKS. ENG RAN FINE (2 MINS). WHILE THIS HAPPENED I WENT TO 121.5, SET UP IN FLIP/FLOP RADIO AND CONTACTED CLT TWR. ALSO SET UP FOR MAX GLIDE AND EMER LNDG (SVC ROAD). PROB IS FUEL BURN/CONSUMPTION 1/3 HIGHER THAN NORMAL CAUSING TANK TO DRY APPROX 45 MINS EARLY. WE'RE EXAMINING PLANE NOW. APPEARS TACHOMETER OFF 150 RPM. SUSTAINED BELOW 3000 FT OP. I MANAGE FUEL BY CLOCK. IN 5 MINS TANK WAS SCHEDULED TO SWITCH!
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.