N6713E

On May 24, 2002, about 1545 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 175, N6713E, made a forced landing following a loss of engine power at the Edison Stadium, Anaheim, California. Tom King Enterprises was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and a pilot rated passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The local banner-towing flight originated at Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California, about 1245.

In a written report, the pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to give a flight orientation to the passenger, while towing a banner. Prior to departure, the pilot requested that the airplane be serviced with fuel, with both tanks being filled to maximum capacity. After being serviced, the fuel gauges indicated full tanks. The airplane uneventfully flew for about 3 hours, and the pilot was en route back to CNO. About 15 minutes from CNO, the engine lost power and the pilot performed an emergency landing. The airplane touched down in a parking lot and collided with a block wall.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot after the accident. The pilot stated that he thought that he had about 10 gallons of fuel on board at the time of the accident. The FAA inspector reported that he saw no signs of fuel at the accident sight. He turned the battery on via the master switch and determined that the fuel gauges were indicating empty tanks. He visually checked the inside of the tanks and found that the left tank was empty, and the right tank had about 1 1/2 gallons of fuel remaining. Neither fuel tank had been breached during the accident.

The Cessna 175 owner's manual states that the airplane's total fuel capacity is 52 gallons, of which 43 gallons are usable. The original Continental GO-300 engine was replaced with a Continental O-470 under a FAA form 337 field approval. The O-470 engine has a higher fuel consumption rate than the GO-300.