Small aircraft engine fails due to fuel starvation and makes off airport landing on highway.

Attributes
ACN	196346
Time
Date	199112
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : frr airport : w91
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	196346
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

IFR flight from N70 to W91 strong winds, 50 KTS at altitude, moderate turbulence, temperature aloft 0 degree F. Had taken on fuel mainly in right tank at departure. Had checked both tank sumps for ice and water on ground. Had some slow flow from left and some water in both. Had also drained lower sump from cockpit at preflight. 1 1/2 hours into flight while under washington dulles control engine stopped. I advised them, tried and made temporary restart. Did full procedure including switching tanks. ATC gave vectors to nearest airport front royal was unable to reach it and I informed them had to make off- field attempt. Picked out a (the only) field but at last chance about 1500 ft didn't like it's looks and chose I66 wbound with traffic, negotiated over wires and under an overpass for successful landing. No damage, no injuries. Radioed through aircraft relay to ATC that I was safely on ground on highway. The FAA called state police who came and after taking report and arranging for a and P service to check fuel system allowed takeoff from highway. No ticket. No problem. I believe that the turbulence in flight dislodged frozen water from fuel cell bladder wrinkles that cut off flow. Mechanics seemed to agree. I hadn't shaken wings in preflight which I will do from now on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENG FAILS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND MAKES OFF ARPT LNDG ON HIGHWAY.

Narrative: IFR FLT FROM N70 TO W91 STRONG WINDS, 50 KTS AT ALT, MODERATE TURB, TEMP ALOFT 0 DEG F. HAD TAKEN ON FUEL MAINLY IN R TANK AT DEP. HAD CHKED BOTH TANK SUMPS FOR ICE AND WATER ON GND. HAD SOME SLOW FLOW FROM L AND SOME WATER IN BOTH. HAD ALSO DRAINED LOWER SUMP FROM COCKPIT AT PREFLT. 1 1/2 HRS INTO FLT WHILE UNDER WASHINGTON DULLES CTL ENG STOPPED. I ADVISED THEM, TRIED AND MADE TEMPORARY RESTART. DID FULL PROC INCLUDING SWITCHING TANKS. ATC GAVE VECTORS TO NEAREST ARPT FRONT ROYAL WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT AND I INFORMED THEM HAD TO MAKE OFF- FIELD ATTEMPT. PICKED OUT A (THE ONLY) FIELD BUT AT LAST CHANCE ABOUT 1500 FT DIDN'T LIKE IT'S LOOKS AND CHOSE I66 WBOUND WITH TFC, NEGOTIATED OVER WIRES AND UNDER AN OVERPASS FOR SUCCESSFUL LNDG. NO DAMAGE, NO INJURIES. RADIOED THROUGH ACFT RELAY TO ATC THAT I WAS SAFELY ON GND ON HIGHWAY. THE FAA CALLED STATE POLICE WHO CAME AND AFTER TAKING RPT AND ARRANGING FOR A AND P SVC TO CHK FUEL SYS ALLOWED TKOF FROM HIGHWAY. NO TICKET. NO PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE TURB IN FLT DISLODGED FROZEN WATER FROM FUEL CELL BLADDER WRINKLES THAT CUT OFF FLOW. MECHS SEEMED TO AGREE. I HADN'T SHAKEN WINGS IN PREFLT WHICH I WILL DO FROM NOW ON.

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.