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An experienced private pilot experienced fuel exhaustion as he was entering the pattern at bli and made an emergency landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 481677 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200008 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bli.airport |
| State Reference | WA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 2700 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : bli.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : traffic pattern arrival : vfr |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 2210 flight time type : 2210 |
| ASRS Report | 481677 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
On flight to land at bellingham international airport, ran out of fuel approximately 1 mi from airport. Was in contact with bellingham tower and given directions to report on a left downwind for runway 16. I was aware that fuel gauges were indicating lower fuel level than I had anticipated by time on tanks. Approach was at 2700 ft AGL due to gauges indicating lower than anticipated fuel level. Was able to continue downwind and land on runway 16 with no incident. Was cleared for emergency landing by tower. I believe fuel tanks were not fully topped off when I last fueled. Time on tanks, if topped, would have given me 35 mins more in flight time.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN EXPERIENCED PVT PLT EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AS HE WAS ENTERING THE PATTERN AT BLI AND MADE AN EMER LNDG.
Narrative: ON FLT TO LAND AT BELLINGHAM INTL ARPT, RAN OUT OF FUEL APPROX 1 MI FROM ARPT. WAS IN CONTACT WITH BELLINGHAM TWR AND GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO RPT ON A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 16. I WAS AWARE THAT FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING LOWER FUEL LEVEL THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED BY TIME ON TANKS. APCH WAS AT 2700 FT AGL DUE TO GAUGES INDICATING LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED FUEL LEVEL. WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DOWNWIND AND LAND ON RWY 16 WITH NO INCIDENT. WAS CLRED FOR EMER LNDG BY TWR. I BELIEVE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT FULLY TOPPED OFF WHEN I LAST FUELED. TIME ON TANKS, IF TOPPED, WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME 35 MINS MORE IN FLT TIME.
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.