Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 600; Flight Crew Type 150
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors
After pre flight inspection I stuck the pilot side fuel tank it registered 13.5 gallons I did not visually check the right tank but both left and right gauges were reading the same; over 10 gallons each. Less than 15 minutes into the flight when I went to lean at 4;000 FT the engine sputtered I enrichened the mixture; no change. I notified Approach that I was zero fuel and needed an airport to land at. She gave me an airport and asked my intentions. I responded I would land there. Upon landing the engine restarted and I was able to taxi to fuel pump where the attendant pumped 43 gallons. I think that I had a blockage in the gascolator drain line and did not close the valve properly as I had gotten about 2 inches of fuel in the strainer and the fuel had stopped flowing I thought I had closed the valve. I guess while in flight the blockage came out and I lost fuel from the partially closed valve. After filling and checking for leaks I filed an IFR flight plan and flew home.
C172 pilot reports engine failure due to fuel starvation at 4;000 FT and is vectored by ATC to a suitable airport. It is thought that the gascolator drain valve did not close properly during preflight allowing over twenty gallons of fuel to be lost in 15 minutes of flight. Forty three gallons of fuel are added before continuing.