A private rated pilot flying a C152 near frankfort, mi, experienced fuel exhaustion resulting in an ...

Attributes
ACN	442533
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3d4.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 663 flight time type : 4
ASRS Report	442533
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On my return trip from mackinac island mcd (no fuel available), my estimated fuel was 2 hours available to make the 1 hour flight. I started out in a rental C152 with full fuel (26 gals usable) in gladstone mi 9c9, handbook shows 6.1 gph burn. 4.2 hours flying time. First leg of trip 9c9 to 3d4 equals 58 mins, 2ND leg 3d4 to mcd equals 1.1 hours, 3RD leg mcd to 3d4 equals 1.1 hours. Total time of calculated fuel used was 3.2 hours. This should have left me with 1 hour reserve fuel. I departed mcd and climbed to 4500 ft for 3d4. 10 mi before 3d4 I descended to 3000 ft. Approximately 1 mi out the engine started missing. I announced an emergency to inbound aircraft. Over mid-field, engine quit (1700 ft MSL). I landed the plane without incident and coasted to the taxi ramp. Refueled plane, right tank took 13.6 gals and put 7 gals in left tank. To prevent this from happening again especially in a rental aircraft that I'm unfamiliar with, I will use larger reserve margins and put a little more faith in the gas gauges if the needle stops moving that's a good indication that it's empty (as the right tank did).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT RATED PLT FLYING A C152 NEAR FRANKFORT, MI, EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTING IN AN EMER LNDG.

Narrative: ON MY RETURN TRIP FROM MACKINAC ISLAND MCD (NO FUEL AVAILABLE), MY ESTIMATED FUEL WAS 2 HRS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE 1 HR FLT. I STARTED OUT IN A RENTAL C152 WITH FULL FUEL (26 GALS USABLE) IN GLADSTONE MI 9C9, HANDBOOK SHOWS 6.1 GPH BURN. 4.2 HRS FLYING TIME. FIRST LEG OF TRIP 9C9 TO 3D4 EQUALS 58 MINS, 2ND LEG 3D4 TO MCD EQUALS 1.1 HRS, 3RD LEG MCD TO 3D4 EQUALS 1.1 HRS. TOTAL TIME OF CALCULATED FUEL USED WAS 3.2 HRS. THIS SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME WITH 1 HR RESERVE FUEL. I DEPARTED MCD AND CLBED TO 4500 FT FOR 3D4. 10 MI BEFORE 3D4 I DSNDED TO 3000 FT. APPROX 1 MI OUT THE ENG STARTED MISSING. I ANNOUNCED AN EMER TO INBOUND ACFT. OVER MID-FIELD, ENG QUIT (1700 FT MSL). I LANDED THE PLANE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND COASTED TO THE TAXI RAMP. REFUELED PLANE, R TANK TOOK 13.6 GALS AND PUT 7 GALS IN L TANK. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN ESPECIALLY IN A RENTAL ACFT THAT I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH, I WILL USE LARGER RESERVE MARGINS AND PUT A LITTLE MORE FAITH IN THE GAS GAUGES IF THE NEEDLE STOPS MOVING THAT'S A GOOD INDICATION THAT IT'S EMPTY (AS THE R TANK DID).

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.

A private rated pilot flying a C152 near frankfort, mi, experienced fuel exhaustion resulting in an emergency landing.