A C150 on a training flight declared an emergency and diverted due to imminent fuel exhaustion.

Attributes
ACN	377206
Time
Date	199708
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tiw
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tiw
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 79 flight time total : 675
ASRS Report	377206
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time total : 23
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Student pilot with 23 hours of training conducted preflight and determined fuel was 1/2 tanks (total 26.0 gals usable 22.5 gals). Company policy requires minimum 1/2 tanks for local training flts dual. After 1.2 hours instructor pilot directed student to return from training area 10 mi from field. At 2500 ft MSL just west of class D airspace instructor pilot requested a practice emergency descent for training. Upon leveloff at 1300 ft MSL student pilot applied power and engine sputtered and quit. Instructor pilot took controls, contacted tower and prepared for power off landing. Engine restarted on emergency approach to shoreline and recovered at tiw without incident or further engine power loss. Upon refueling aircraft received 21 gals. Instructor pilot learned that additional training was required to determine 1/2 tank quantity.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C150 ON A TRAINING FLT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO IMMINENT FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Narrative: STUDENT PLT WITH 23 HRS OF TRAINING CONDUCTED PREFLT AND DETERMINED FUEL WAS 1/2 TANKS (TOTAL 26.0 GALS USABLE 22.5 GALS). COMPANY POLICY REQUIRES MINIMUM 1/2 TANKS FOR LCL TRAINING FLTS DUAL. AFTER 1.2 HRS INSTRUCTOR PLT DIRECTED STUDENT TO RETURN FROM TRAINING AREA 10 MI FROM FIELD. AT 2500 FT MSL JUST W OF CLASS D AIRSPACE INSTRUCTOR PLT REQUESTED A PRACTICE EMER DSCNT FOR TRAINING. UPON LEVELOFF AT 1300 FT MSL STUDENT PLT APPLIED PWR AND ENG SPUTTERED AND QUIT. INSTRUCTOR PLT TOOK CTLS, CONTACTED TWR AND PREPARED FOR PWR OFF LNDG. ENG RESTARTED ON EMER APCH TO SHORELINE AND RECOVERED AT TIW WITHOUT INCIDENT OR FURTHER ENG PWR LOSS. UPON REFUELING ACFT RECEIVED 21 GALS. INSTRUCTOR PLT LEARNED THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING WAS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE 1/2 TANK QUANTITY.

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.