This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
Engine failure and off site landing due to fuel starvation.
I was the pilot in command and had attempted to refuel at ZZZ1 but the fuel pump card reader was inoperative. I had removed the two wing top gas caps and subsequently was distracted while getting help with the fuel card reader.
The following day I planned a flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ knowing that I had slightly more than 1/2 tanks full and balanced. I preflighted but failed to check the wing top tank caps.
About 20 minutes into the flight the engine quit and I made a landing on a road.
I had positioned and intended to land in a field adjacent to the road but was able to ascertain the road was clear of traffic and power lines and had very wide grassy shoulders should I need them.
I notified first responders of the incident. I made arrangements for aircraft mechanics to remove the wings and trailer the airplane to its home base.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2106217
Thank God, he learned this lesson the hard way without any damage or loss of life. This could have been much worse.
Distraction (s) while doing any preflight could lead to bad results!! Saftey saids “pay attention” !! If not then you may not have time to.
Yes. First, you complete a thorough preflight inspection. Then you go do the myriad things you need to do before you fly. Then you load up your “payload.” Then lastly, you do your final walk-around making sure all doors and cowlings are closed, protective covers and control locks are removed, tie downs are untied and the fuel caps are on securely. It’s a two step process.
And you didn’t think to monitor fuel quantity readings? Should be part of your regular scan, no later than after takeoff check or at least top of climb check.
Yep. Cockpit ( OOPS, flight deck ) fuel quantity instruments, like Rodney Dangerfield, ‘ don’t get no respect ‘.However, the one time they definitely should is when they’re descending faster than time-in-flight might suggest.
If, that is, the pilot glances at them at all !
I’m a firm believer in the 360 degree walkaround as a final check after pulling the plane out of the hangar and before getting in the airplane for engine start. I check baggage door, fuel caps, and make sure gust lock, tow bar, cowl plugs and pitot tuber cover have been removed and stowed. It can save a potentially costly mistake.
If any task, including your preflight, is interrupted, start from the beginning again. You made that error twice.
“Knowing I had slightly more than 1/2 tanks full….”. You didn’t know, because you never checked! If you had, you’d have seen the fuel caps off!
No excuses. Do a preflight before every flight.
You just can’t check an aircraft enough.
My first flight inspection for an Arrow III is 45 minutes. I pull panels, check tire pressure and touch every hose connection I can reach.
I will do a post flight walk around then a preflight walk around before the start of every leg.
Complacency will kill you which isn’t always a bad thing but to injure a pax or wrinkle an aircraft is unforgivable
You do a proper pre-flight. You walk away from the plane for whatever reason and return to the plane for a flight much later.
REPEAT THE ENTIRE PRE-FLIGHT!!!
Why re-do your preflight after 15 minutes?
Well we watched a bird trying to build a nest for about 15 minutes using the holes around the an elevator on my plane. You probably would not believe how much stuff and how long it took to get it out of there.
Why didn’t we stop it? Because:
we wanted to see what they could do. And it took a coat hanger and long nose pliers to get it all out. And you don’t want that to happen you your engine. You could get into the air and then have it over-heating. This is why I built my own custom plugs for my airplane to protect the engine — with remove before starting flags too — and custome plugs for other holes.