ERA23LA335

The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel level, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

During a visual-flight-rules instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor completed a variety of training maneuvers and takeoff and landing practice. They recalled that they departed with a total of about 16 gallons of fuel onboard, based on the preflight inspection of the fuel quantity by the student pilot with a dip stick. While returning to their home airport, about 15 minutes from landing, the engine gradually lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to restore engine power without success. She subsequently completed a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted an area of vegetation and trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site found no evidence of fuel. The airplane operator’s log for the accident airplane revealed that the airplane had been operated for a total of 5.2 hours since it was last refueled with an undetermined amount of fuel. According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the airplane’s fuel capacity was 24.5 gallons and the estimated consumption rate was about 5.5 gallons per hour. Based on this information, and the lack of fuel found by the FAA inspector onboard the airplane at the accident site, it is likely that the flight instructor and student departed for the flight without sufficient available fuel, and that the engine lost total power due to an exhaustion of the fuel supply. Had the flight instructor personally verified the total fuel quantity onboard, it is possible that the accident could have been avoided.

On August 9, 2023, about 1300 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N5313M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Manatí, Puerto Rico. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that during preflight inspection, the student pilot checked the fuel and observed about 8 gallons per tank. The visual-flight-rules flight departed from Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG), San Juan, Puerto Rico, toward the west to perform a variety of training maneuvers. The flight continued toward Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ABO), Arecibo, Puerto Rico, where they completed three takeoffs and landings. They performed one additional landing at Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN), Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, then proceeded back to SIG. About 15 minutes before landing, the instructor observed a gradual drop in engine rpm, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The instructor reported that she took control of the airplane, manipulated the throttle, and attempted to restart the engine, but power was not restored. She completed a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted an area of vegetation and trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Following the accident, the instructor reported that an undetermined amount of fuel remained in the left wing. According to an FAA inspector, who examined the airplane the day of the accident, no fuel was observed onboard the airplane. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage, and the right wing had partially separated from the fuselage. When the engine crankshaft was rotated by hand, crankshaft and camshaft continuity was observed. The spark plugs were found with normal combustion signatures. The compression of each cylinder, which was performed with a cold engine, was: No. 1; 29/80 psi, No. 2; 39/80 psi, No. 3; 50/80 psi, No. 4; 50/80 psi. According to fueling records provided by the flight school, the airplane was last fueled on July 28, 2023, with an unspecified amount of fuel. A total of 30.1 gallons were pumped between three airplanes, one of which was the accident airplane. The instructor provided a statement that her student used a fuel dip stick to check the fuel before departing on the flight (measured 8 gallons per tank). She further stated that she checked the fuel levels by observing the fuel gauges, which showed about 3/4 full. According to the flight school’s daily Hobbs meter log, on August 8, 2023, the airplane was flown 2.6 hours, and an additional 2.6 hours was recorded on the day of the accident, resulting in 5.2 hours of flight time since the last recorded fueling. According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the airplane’s fuel capacity was 24.5 gallons. The estimated fuel consumption rate was about 5.5 gallons per hour.