Pilot of a pitts S-2B made off airport landing on road after engine quit due to fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	505832
Time
Date	200103
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ryn.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ryn.tower artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Fairchild Swearingen Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	505832
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : loss of engine power other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After completing aerobatic training at chandler, az, I returned to ryan field in tucson. During the descent, the engine started to surge. I immediately started to climb and turned on boost pump. The engine continued to surge. If it failed completely, I would be forced to land in rough desert, so elected to land on road in farm field within easy glide distance. Aircraft landed with no damage. Airport police investigated and took fuel sample which appeared ok. After opening the cowling and allowing the engine to cool it started and ran normally. Fuel tank showed legal on stick. I added 5 more gallons before takeoff and completed the flight to ryan field. This problem could have been avoided by 1) using boost pump in descent, 2) not allowing fuel level to get so low. I had used more fuel than normal during the acrobatic instruction and neglected to stick gauge the fuel before takeoff. This aircraft uses a clear plastic tube on instrument panel to show fuel amount. It is not visible between 1/2 and empty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A PITTS S-2B MADE OFF ARPT LNDG ON ROAD AFTER ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: AFTER COMPLETING AEROBATIC TRAINING AT CHANDLER, AZ, I RETURNED TO RYAN FIELD IN TUCSON. DURING THE DSCNT, THE ENG STARTED TO SURGE. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CLB AND TURNED ON BOOST PUMP. THE ENG CONTINUED TO SURGE. IF IT FAILED COMPLETELY, I WOULD BE FORCED TO LAND IN ROUGH DESERT, SO ELECTED TO LAND ON ROAD IN FARM FIELD WITHIN EASY GLIDE DISTANCE. ACFT LANDED WITH NO DAMAGE. ARPT POLICE INVESTIGATED AND TOOK FUEL SAMPLE WHICH APPEARED OK. AFTER OPENING THE COWLING AND ALLOWING THE ENG TO COOL IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. FUEL TANK SHOWED LEGAL ON STICK. I ADDED 5 MORE GALLONS BEFORE TKOF AND COMPLETED THE FLT TO RYAN FIELD. THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY 1) USING BOOST PUMP IN DSCNT, 2) NOT ALLOWING FUEL LEVEL TO GET SO LOW. I HAD USED MORE FUEL THAN NORMAL DURING THE ACROBATIC INSTRUCTION AND NEGLECTED TO STICK GAUGE THE FUEL BEFORE TKOF. THIS ACFT USES A CLR PLASTIC TUBE ON INST PANEL TO SHOW FUEL AMOUNT. IT IS NOT VISIBLE BTWN 1/2 AND EMPTY.

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.