BEAVER FALLS, PA, USA
N123DA
CHAMPION 7ECA
DURING A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT AT 500 FEET THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A WOODED AREA IN HILLY TERRAIN. THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY & THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL. THE AIRPLANE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. THE RIGHT TANK FUEL VENT CHECK VALVE HELD A GUMMY SUBSTANCE IN THE FLIPPER VALVE SEAT AREA. THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAPS ARE NOT VENTED. FUEL GAUGES FOR EACH TANK ARE LOCATED ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF EACH FUEL TANK.
THE RIGHT FUEL VENT BECAME CLOGGED ALLOWING THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO BECOME EXHAUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE FUEL SUPPLY IN EACH TANK.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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