Narrative:

I was delivering an amd CH2000 alarus for a friend. I thought, based on previous fuel consumption rates, that I had 20 mins of fuel remaining. When the tanks were indicating 1/8, it confirmed this. However, the tank's indicator rapidly moved past 1/8 to zero in a non-linear motion. The 'east' was confirmed by decreasing fuel pressure. An emergency was declared with approach. With the controller's assistance, a non eventful (no damage or injuries) landing was executed. The aircraft was repositioned by dolly truck. Subsequent review of the manual indicated that this act is equipped with an optional fuel system which contains less fuel and endurance than what is indicated in the performance section of the poh. Although I could blame the poh, had I more thoroughly studied the options section of the poh, I would have exercised greater caution and noted the difference. I have been a mechanic for 25 yrs working on all types of aircraft. I know better than to trust fuel gauges and always use time/known burn rates. However, this time, I cut into my usual 45 min 'sacred' reserve. When the tanks went dry, I'm 'supposed' to have 20 mins remaining with 5 mins left to fly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AMD ALARUS CH2000 PLT MADE AN OFF FIELD LNDG DUE TO FUEL STARVATION BECAUSE HE MISJUDGED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE FUEL REMAINING INDICATION.

Narrative: I WAS DELIVERING AN AMD CH2000 ALARUS FOR A FRIEND. I THOUGHT, BASED ON PREVIOUS FUEL CONSUMPTION RATES, THAT I HAD 20 MINS OF FUEL REMAINING. WHEN THE TANKS WERE INDICATING 1/8, IT CONFIRMED THIS. HOWEVER, THE TANK'S INDICATOR RAPIDLY MOVED PAST 1/8 TO ZERO IN A NON-LINEAR MOTION. THE 'E' WAS CONFIRMED BY DECREASING FUEL PRESSURE. AN EMER WAS DECLARED WITH APCH. WITH THE CTLR'S ASSISTANCE, A NON EVENTFUL (NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES) LNDG WAS EXECUTED. THE ACFT WAS REPOSITIONED BY DOLLY TRUCK. SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF THE MANUAL INDICATED THAT THIS ACT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL FUEL SYS WHICH CONTAINS LESS FUEL AND ENDURANCE THAN WHAT IS INDICATED IN THE PERFORMANCE SECTION OF THE POH. ALTHOUGH I COULD BLAME THE POH, HAD I MORE THOROUGHLY STUDIED THE OPTIONS SECTION OF THE POH, I WOULD HAVE EXERCISED GREATER CAUTION AND NOTED THE DIFFERENCE. I HAVE BEEN A MECH FOR 25 YRS WORKING ON ALL TYPES OF ACFT. I KNOW BETTER THAN TO TRUST FUEL GAUGES AND ALWAYS USE TIME/KNOWN BURN RATES. HOWEVER, THIS TIME, I CUT INTO MY USUAL 45 MIN 'SACRED' RESERVE. WHEN THE TANKS WENT DRY, I'M 'SUPPOSED' TO HAVE 20 MINS REMAINING WITH 5 MINS LEFT TO FLY.

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.