Fuel - Why Does This Continue To Happen ???

JEP

Does It Really Matter....?
Staff member
NTSB Identification: LAX03LA255
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 09, 2003 in MT. HAMILTON, CA
Aircraft: LEFEVER SKYBOLT, registration: N94PL
Injuries: 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On August 9, 2003, about 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Lefever experimental Skybolt, N94PL, lost engine power and landed hard during an emergency landing in a field near Mount Hamilton, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Lodi Airport, Lodi, California, about 0900, en route to San Martin, California. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 37 degrees 22 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 38 minutes west longitude.

The pilot reported that while he was cruising at 5,500 mean sea level the engine quit, and he thought that he had run out of fuel. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site was not able to locate any fuel in any of the fuel tanks. There also was no indication of any fuel leaks.

The pilot said he had flown about 1 3/4 hours since refueling the airplane. The airplane holds enough fuel in the main tanks for approximately 2 hours flight time. The airplane is equipped with an additional fuel tank, but the pilot said he only uses it for ferry flights.
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