FORREST CITY, AR, USA
N35520
CESSNA 172I
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED POWER FAILURE FROM ABOUT 20 FEET AGL DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP. A WITNESS HEARD THEENGINE SPIT AND POP DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HE SAID IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE HIS OLD PICKUP WHEN IT RUNS OUT OF GAS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS EXAMINED BY A MECHANIC WHO SAID IT CONTAINED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WITH NO TRASH OR WATER. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS 1/3 TO 1/2 FULL BUT THE RIGHT TANK HAD ONLY SEVEN QUARTS OF FUEL WITH ABOUT 6 DROPS OF WATER PRESENT. THE 7 QUARTS WERE COLLECTED BY REMOVING THE WING FROM THE ACFT BEFORE DRAINING IT. THE RESCUE PERSONNEL SAID THEY TURNED OFF THE FUEL BUT THE SELECTOR HAD BEEN ON THE RIGHT TANK WHEN THEY ARRIVED. THE OPERATORS FUEL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE IS TO USE ONE HALF OF ONE TANK THEN SWITCH TANKS AND RUN THE OPPOSITE TANK DRY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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