Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 510; Flight Crew Type 465
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I had signed off to allow my student to do his local solo flight in our practice areas. He encountered an engine out issue and had to make an emergency engine out landing at our home airport ZZZ. Here are the words from my solo student:Preflight was normal. Fueled tanks to 30 gallons. Aircraft responded nominally during run up; take off; departure. I climbed to 3;000 ft. and started to perform clearing turns then slow flight. During slow flight; the right fuel tank gauge fluctuated rapidly between 0 and 10 while the annunciator said 'Right Fuel Lo'. As a precaution; I changed the fuel selector switch to left tank. I redirected back to ZZZ. During return flight; I noticed that the left fuel indicator was draining quicker than usual but I'm unsure due to being unnerved. During approach to base for runway 19L. The engine started to sound rough and power was slowly dwindling. On final; the aircraft engine ceased operating. I was able to restart the engine and was given a brief moment of power from the engine before it ceased. I performed engine failure procedure during and after landing.' After bringing the aircraft back to the hangar; we check the fuel tanks and there was 18 gals in the left tank and 17 gals in the right tank. We suspect it might be an issue with fuel line. Maintenance will look more into it tomorrow.
Flight Instructor reported his solo pilot student had fuel starvation resulting in engine failure; resulting in a return to the departure airport.