N8451E

On July 8, 1999, at 1015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R, N8451E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing two miles from the Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Des Moines, Iowa, at 0715, en route to Fargo, which was an intermediate stop with a final destination of Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada. Visual meteorological condition prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was executing the ILS 35 approach when the engine started to sputter and then stopped. The airplane landed in a railroad switching yard. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured.

The pilot reported the airplane had 70 gallons of fuel on board due to weight and balance conditions when they departed Des Moines, Iowa. The pilot reported that each tank had 35 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that he calculated he had 3.5 hours of fuel on board and that the flight would last 2.8 hours. He reported he switched between the left and right fuel tanks every 20 to 25 minutes. The flight lasted approximately 3.0 hours.

The pilot reported that he performed a pre-landing checklist prior to landing and he reported that the left fuel gauge indicated 10 to 11 gallons. He reported that he was on localizer and on glideslope with the airport in sight when the engine quit. The pilot reported that he switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank that indicated eight gallons. The pilot reported that he thought the engine problem was related to the magneto so he switched the fuel selector back to the left tank since the left fuel gauge indicated more fuel. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but it would not start. The pilot executed a forced landing to a railroad switching yard. He reported he flared several feet high, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane landed hard. He reported the right wing was lower than the left wing and the airplane spun around to the right.

The inspection of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank had .75 gallons of fuel. The right fuel tank was compromised during landing. The airplane's pilot's information handbook indicated the unusable fuel was five gallons.

The fuel gauges were checked by putting in five gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and five gallons of fuel in the repaired right fuel tank. The right fuel gauge read correctly. The left fuel gauge read three gallons.

The pilot reported that the left fuel gauge had a history of reading inaccurately on an intermittent basis since 1996. He reported it had been serviced by a repair facility, but that the left fuel gauge still had an intermittent problem.