BL30 pilot ran out of gas and made a forced landing.

Attributes
ACN	433774
Time
Date	199904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ssi.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Decathlon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : holding
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 866 flight time type : 836
ASRS Report	433774
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While flying VFR at 1000 ft MSL along the coast of georgia, our single engine bellanca 8KCAB decathlon lost power. The pilot enriched the mixture, switched to alternate air, but the engine did not respond. The pilot selected a beach on sapelo island, maneuvered the aircraft 180 degrees and asked the passenger to make a radio distress call. The pilot made a successful downwind landing with no injuries or damage sustained. Our location and physical condition were relayed to sav approach by an aircraft who circled our position for 10 mins. We were unable to contact sav approach from our location. A local resident provided us with 10 gallons of fuel and we took off and continued our trip. We called flight service by telephone to report we were safe. The likely reason for power loss was fuel starvation. The pilot misjudged his fuel consumption. A contributing factor to the pilot's judgement was moderate turbulence and strong headwinds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BL30 PLT RAN OUT OF GAS AND MADE A FORCED LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING VFR AT 1000 FT MSL ALONG THE COAST OF GEORGIA, OUR SINGLE ENG BELLANCA 8KCAB DECATHLON LOST PWR. THE PLT ENRICHED THE MIXTURE, SWITCHED TO ALTERNATE AIR, BUT THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT SELECTED A BEACH ON SAPELO ISLAND, MANEUVERED THE ACFT 180 DEGS AND ASKED THE PAX TO MAKE A RADIO DISTRESS CALL. THE PLT MADE A SUCCESSFUL DOWNWIND LNDG WITH NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE SUSTAINED. OUR LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CONDITION WERE RELAYED TO SAV APCH BY AN ACFT WHO CIRCLED OUR POS FOR 10 MINS. WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT SAV APCH FROM OUR LOCATION. A LCL RESIDENT PROVIDED US WITH 10 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WE TOOK OFF AND CONTINUED OUR TRIP. WE CALLED FLT SVC BY TELEPHONE TO RPT WE WERE SAFE. THE LIKELY REASON FOR PWR LOSS WAS FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT MISJUDGED HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE PLT'S JUDGEMENT WAS MODERATE TURB AND STRONG HEADWINDS.

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.