RV-6
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 300
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors
Flew into this airport 4 days previously; noted that I had about 1 hour of fuel remaining; i.e.; a quarter of a tank. On morning of incident; went to airport to fly 20 miles south for fuel. Due to fuel tank being 'low' -- no fuel will show up on inspection when less than a quarter. The tank gauges showed enough fuel; the previous trip should have allowed enough fuel. On takeoff; all was normal till 5 minutes after takeoff when engine quit. [I] switched to other tank; turned back to airport. Engine restarted and ran north 1 minute and quit. Attempted to return to the airport; but unable. Elected to land alongside highway; and I descended; realized there was no traffic or telephone wires. I swerved to land on highway which was done. Pushed plane off highway down an embankment and tail pushed up against wire fence. Not sure at this point why engine quit; but know I should have added enough gas to be sure there was no possibility. Not sure why my previous experience led me to believe there was enough gas; but hindsight tells me why I would have not been more sure when I took off. When a fuel tank shows no visible fuel; put fuel in regardless of what previous experience tells one how much should still be in the tank or what fuel gauge shows versus what is previously shown. No gas visible means no gas and not 4 gallons that I think is still there. Off airport landing; fuel exhaustion? No damage.
An RV-6 pilot landed off airport because of fuel starvation after taking off with no fuel quantity indicated because previous experience told him he should have enough fuel to fly to a nearby airport.