Posted on 04/05/2015 5:15:11 PM PDT by Stayfree
My neighbor who flies out of Van Nuys and Santa Monica told me that he had a conversation with the operators of a fuel truck at Santa Monica airport recently in which the fuel truck operators said that for some reason they were not asked to fill up Harrison Ford's vintage airplane with fuel which they usually do before he uses the plane and that Ford just hopped aboard the plane without checking it out before taking off.
I have no way of verifying this, but it apparently the most recent news coverage suggested engine failure, but now explanation as to why the engine failed....lack of fuel sounds like a reasonable explanation to me!
That doesn’t sound right. Pilots are fully trained to check out the plane before flying it (including checking the fuel tanks) and it is second nature to do that. Unless he had decided to commit suicide, he would have checked the tanks.
If true, amazingly stupid error on Mr. Ford’s part. Checking the fuel sumps and visual check of level is a mandatory part of your preflight.
50 years ago when I was 18, I was lowering the hammer on a 1911. I let the hammer slip and it went off. Fortunately it was pointed at the ground but I got a cut on my thumb and I still have a tiny scar to remind me.
Looking back I am glad it happened. It taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.
Ford is a notorious drinker.
I thought it was, “Kick the tire, light the fire, go on Guard, and leave the yard.”
Fuel gauges in vintage aircraft are usually not very accurate and don’t give the pilot more than an “indiction” of how much fuel is actually in the tanks...
Relying on “floats” (that can stick) in the tanks, or decades-old fuel gauges that can fail to tell the pilot if tanks are “full” or not is asking for trouble...Murphy’s Law especially applies to aviation...
Opening fuel ports to visually inspect, and dipping the tanks is the best and safest way to avoid risking your life (and passengers)...Should be part of every pre-flight check...
Consequently, he ran out of altitude, airspeed and ideas all at once...Sucks, and can be fatal...Harrison Ford got lucky...
My first instructor was fond of reaching over and pulling the throttle to idle, and then asking me “You just lost your engine...Where are you gonna land?” Got me in the definite habit of taking the preflight seriously, and constantly looking for emergency landing opportunities...
Technically, when the engine runs out of fuel it could be properly considered an “engine failure” and you would probably crash or crash land. Every one should just be grateful that Harry made it home safely and no dogs died.
No gas tanks in the wing of a PT-22. The fuel is in a single tank in front of the cockpit. The pictures show the engine mounts broke just in front of the fuel tank.
He was using the John Denver pre-flight technique.
Did he graduate from the JFK Jr. Flight School?
When I was flying, the aircraft was always refueled as soon as it was parked after a flight. Reason being, a fuel tank that has empty air space inside it can develop condensation and get water in the fuel. If Mr. Ford left his airplane sit around with a less than full tank he was asking for trouble, from condensation.
Then, upon deciding to take her up, if he didn’t do a proper preflight and drain the condensation sumps in the fuel tank(s) during his walk-around, the cause of the engine failure could have been from water in the fuel.
That would explain why he had to land it on a golf course.
The preflight inspection should pick that up.
Wisdom.
Per wikipedia “The PT-22 fuel system consists of a single tank mounted forward of the front cockpit”
More like a vague hint or 'rumor has it there might be fuel in here'.
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