PEMBROKE PINES, FL, USA
N7873F
CESSNA 150F
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH AN ESTIMATED SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF FUEL BASED ON THE FUEL GAUGES. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A SMALL BODY OF WATER AFTER HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS CONTAINED RESPECTIVELY 1.5 AND 2 GALLONS OF FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET, THE UNUSABLE FUEL QUANTITY IS 3.5 GALLONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED ACCORDING TO THE TACHOMETER 3.69 HOURS SINCE THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED.
On August 11, 1993, about 2019 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N7873F, registered to Donna M. Hanner and operated by Dove Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a body of water near Pembroke Pines, Florida, while on approach to land at the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, about 38 minutes earlier. The student pilot stated that before departure, he observed that the left and right fuel gauges indicated respectively 1/4 and 1/2 full. The owner of the flight school advised him that the quantity was sufficient for the estimated 1-hour flight. The flight departed, then returned for landing and while on final approach, the engine failed. Unable to land at the airport he ditched the airplane in a small body of water. Review of the airplane records revealed that the airplane had been operated according to the engine tachometer for 3.69 hours since the fuel tanks were filled. According to FAA personnel, examination of the airplane after it was recovered from the water revealed that the left and right fuel tanks respectively contained about 1.5 and 2 gallons of fuel. The gascolator was drained and did not contain fuel. According to the type certificate data sheet for the airplane, the total unusable fuel quantity for the airplane is 3.5 gallons.
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INACCURATE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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