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Lost electrical power and suspected low on fuel. While trying to make a precautionary landing, ran out of fuel and landed on a highway.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 133811 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199001 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mss |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 133811 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Pilot filled tank at azo, filed IFR for bgr and departed. Approximately 2 hours later, after skimming cloud tops. Pilot observed airspeed indicator indicating higher speed than calculated and in climb; speed increased. Pilot confirmed pitot heat turned on. Cycled pitot heat and confirmed no amp change. During preflight pitot heat was operating. At this time, left gen failed. Pilot observed fuel gauges reading 1/3 and airspeed indicator reading 0. Fuel remaining in each main tank, conclusions formed: 1) pitot heat was not operating. 2) fuel gauges, being electric, could be reading low due to partial electrical failure. 3) concluded that over 100% excessive fuel consumption was unrealistic. Pilot decided that the best thing to do was land as soon as possible. Began an ILS approach at massena airport. Visibility at 1800 MLS, approach to runway 5. Wind was 240/18, braking poor. Elected to go downwind for runway 23. On base, both engines stopped and aircraft landed on highway, 1000' short of runway. Cause of fuel los undeterminable. Prevention suggestion impossible since reason for fuel loss unknown.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LOST ELECTRICAL POWER AND SUSPECTED LOW ON FUEL. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG, RAN OUT OF FUEL AND LANDED ON A HIGHWAY.
Narrative: PLT FILLED TANK AT AZO, FILED IFR FOR BGR AND DEPARTED. APPROX 2 HRS LATER, AFTER SKIMMING CLOUD TOPS. PLT OBSERVED AIRSPD INDICATOR INDICATING HIGHER SPD THAN CALCULATED AND IN CLB; SPD INCREASED. PLT CONFIRMED PITOT HEAT TURNED ON. CYCLED PITOT HEAT AND CONFIRMED NO AMP CHANGE. DURING PREFLT PITOT HEAT WAS OPERATING. AT THIS TIME, LEFT GEN FAILED. PLT OBSERVED FUEL GAUGES READING 1/3 AND AIRSPD INDICATOR READING 0. FUEL REMAINING IN EACH MAIN TANK, CONCLUSIONS FORMED: 1) PITOT HEAT WAS NOT OPERATING. 2) FUEL GAUGES, BEING ELECTRIC, COULD BE READING LOW DUE TO PARTIAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. 3) CONCLUDED THAT OVER 100% EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS UNREALISTIC. PLT DECIDED THAT THE BEST THING TO DO WAS LAND ASAP. BEGAN AN ILS APCH AT MASSENA ARPT. VIS AT 1800 MLS, APCH TO RWY 5. WIND WAS 240/18, BRAKING POOR. ELECTED TO GO DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23. ON BASE, BOTH ENGS STOPPED AND ACFT LANDED ON HWY, 1000' SHORT OF RWY. CAUSE OF FUEL LOS UNDETERMINABLE. PREVENTION SUGGESTION IMPOSSIBLE SINCE REASON FOR FUEL LOSS UNKNOWN.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.