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A C150 pilot experienced an engine failure in the flare after a 5.9 hour flight. Post flight revealed that there were 4.9 usable gallons of fuel remaining in the left tank that apparently could not get to the engine.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1347743 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201604 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 150 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Reciprocating Engine Assembly |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 235 Flight Crew Total 1400 Flight Crew Type 130 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
Narrative:
On very short final (in the flare) the engine came to a stop. I was able to make the first turn off of [the] runway but ran out of energy to clear the runway. I told ATC that I was unable to clear the runway. I then attempted a restart; the only way I could get the engine running was to use the primer and pump the throttle; I was able to clear the runway and then the engine lost power again. I noticed the primer began sucking air. I notified the tower I would need a tow; at which point I switched to ground; let them know and then called the FBO and was towed to the ramp. The fuel gauges showed over a quarter tank in the left and less than a quarter but above 1/8 on the right. I jumped up on the wing prior to the tow and noted that the right tank was empty and the left tank had a decent quantity of fuel remaining. I had flown 5.9 hours at that point; this was the longest flight I had done between fueling; the next longest was around 5 hours. This c-150 was equipped with extended range tanks. 38 gallons total; 3 gallons unusable. 35 gallons usable; I had flown the aircraft approximately 43 hours prior to the incident in the past two weeks. The fuel burn was averaging 5 to 5.5 gallons per hour. When I fueled the aircraft the right tank took 19.1 gallons and the left took 13.0 gallons this left me with 7.9 gallons remaining total with 1.5 unusable remaining. (The unusable fuel in the right tank was used). The math showed that assuming 3 gallons unusable I had 4.9 gallons remaining. The fuel burn on that flight came out to 5.35 gph which left me with 0.9 hours of fuel remaining. After refueling the aircraft I called a mechanic and explained the situation to him we both agreed the aircraft had an issue with the fuel system; not the engine. I noted that I did not fly an extended period of uncoordinated flight or turns around a point for an extended time. The plan was to sump the fuel and do an extended ground runup. I filled out accident/incident paperwork with the FBO and they took a copy of my pilot certificate. I then did an extended runup; took off and flew the aircraft for a 50 hour inspection that was due and reported the problem to maintenance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C150 pilot experienced an engine failure in the flare after a 5.9 hour flight. Post flight revealed that there were 4.9 usable gallons of fuel remaining in the left tank that apparently could not get to the engine.
Narrative: On very short final (in the flare) the engine came to a stop. I was able to make the first turn off of [the] runway but ran out of energy to clear the runway. I told ATC that I was unable to clear the runway. I then attempted a restart; the only way I could get the engine running was to use the primer and pump the throttle; I was able to clear the runway and then the engine lost power again. I noticed the primer began sucking air. I notified the tower I would need a tow; at which point I switched to ground; let them know and then called the FBO and was towed to the ramp. The fuel gauges showed over a quarter tank in the left and less than a quarter but above 1/8 on the right. I jumped up on the wing prior to the tow and noted that the right tank was empty and the left tank had a decent quantity of fuel remaining. I had flown 5.9 hours at that point; this was the longest flight I had done between fueling; the next longest was around 5 hours. This c-150 was equipped with extended range tanks. 38 gallons total; 3 gallons unusable. 35 gallons usable; I had flown the aircraft approximately 43 hours prior to the incident in the past two weeks. The fuel burn was averaging 5 to 5.5 gallons per hour. When I fueled the aircraft the right tank took 19.1 gallons and the left took 13.0 gallons this left me with 7.9 gallons remaining total with 1.5 unusable remaining. (The unusable fuel in the right tank was used). The math showed that assuming 3 gallons unusable I had 4.9 gallons remaining. The fuel burn on that flight came out to 5.35 GPH which left me with 0.9 hours of fuel remaining. After refueling the aircraft I called a mechanic and explained the situation to him we both agreed the aircraft had an issue with the fuel system; not the engine. I noted that I did not fly an extended period of uncoordinated flight or turns around a point for an extended time. The plan was to sump the fuel and do an extended ground runup. I filled out accident/incident paperwork with the FBO and they took a copy of my pilot certificate. I then did an extended runup; took off and flew the aircraft for a 50 hour inspection that was due and reported the problem to maintenance.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.