Narrative:

While on vectors for an ILS runway 35 approach into apa, I lost power on both engines, and noticed the fuel gauge was showing zero. This stunned me because approximately mid way en route I remember thinking the current fuel status was normal. I was unable to make it to the airport, so I picked a field, called ATC, and declared an emergency. I landed with no damage to the aircraft or injuries to me. I believe that even though I had asked for fuel, the FBO never fueled me and failed to push the flapper valve down to verify there was actually full fuel in the tank. On the aeronautical commander there is an anti siphoning device (flapper valve) just under the fuel cap. When I removed the fuel cap and saw fuel up to the bottom of the cap, I assumed it was full. The fuel gauge only shows up to 135 gallons. The tank capacity is 156 gallons. In the past, I have noted that when the tank is full the fuel gauge shows between 130-135 gallons. Because of the fact the gauge does not show above 135 gallons, it is not possible to verify the fuel tank is full by looking at the gauge, making it imperative to check the tank physically. However, because of the flapper valve holding fuel it is easy to assume the tank is full when it is not. I believe these 2 facts led me into a false sense of security. I believed the fuel tank was full. Pilots should be aware that on aircraft equipped with flapper valves you must be sure and push it down to actually see into the tank and determine the actual fuel level. This is a point I will never forget. I know that it was my responsibility to ensure adequate fuel was on board. But the facts about the flapper valve might help spare another pilot the same terror and possibly his/her life.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AC500 ATX CARGO PLT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO FUEL AND LANDED OFF ARPT WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR INJURY TO HIMSELF, SOLO OCCUPANT.

Narrative: WHILE ON VECTORS FOR AN ILS RWY 35 APCH INTO APA, I LOST PWR ON BOTH ENGS, AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ZERO. THIS STUNNED ME BECAUSE APPROX MID WAY ENRTE I REMEMBER THINKING THE CURRENT FUEL STATUS WAS NORMAL. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE ARPT, SO I PICKED A FIELD, CALLED ATC, AND DECLARED AN EMER. I LANDED WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR INJURIES TO ME. I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAD ASKED FOR FUEL, THE FBO NEVER FUELED ME AND FAILED TO PUSH THE FLAPPER VALVE DOWN TO VERIFY THERE WAS ACTUALLY FULL FUEL IN THE TANK. ON THE AERO COMMANDER THERE IS AN ANTI SIPHONING DEVICE (FLAPPER VALVE) JUST UNDER THE FUEL CAP. WHEN I REMOVED THE FUEL CAP AND SAW FUEL UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAP, I ASSUMED IT WAS FULL. THE FUEL GAUGE ONLY SHOWS UP TO 135 GALLONS. THE TANK CAPACITY IS 156 GALLONS. IN THE PAST, I HAVE NOTED THAT WHEN THE TANK IS FULL THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS BTWN 130-135 GALLONS. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THE GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW ABOVE 135 GALLONS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO VERIFY THE FUEL TANK IS FULL BY LOOKING AT THE GAUGE, MAKING IT IMPERATIVE TO CHK THE TANK PHYSICALLY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE HOLDING FUEL IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THE TANK IS FULL WHEN IT IS NOT. I BELIEVE THESE 2 FACTS LED ME INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. I BELIEVED THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. PLTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT ON ACFT EQUIPPED WITH FLAPPER VALVES YOU MUST BE SURE AND PUSH IT DOWN TO ACTUALLY SEE INTO THE TANK AND DETERMINE THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL. THIS IS A POINT I WILL NEVER FORGET. I KNOW THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON BOARD. BUT THE FACTS ABOUT THE FLAPPER VALVE MIGHT HELP SPARE ANOTHER PLT THE SAME TERROR AND POSSIBLY HIS/HER LIFE.

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.