Air In The Tanks

I was flying my Cessna T210R Turbo Centurion from the Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in White Plains, N.Y., to the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK) in Atlanta, Ga., on a dark night. I departed KHPN IFR but encountered unlimited visibility over North Carolina and cancelled. Before takeoff, I observed line personnel fill both fuel tanks. I had planned to have an hours fuel reserve on landing at PDK, and there hadnt been any unforecast headwinds. However, as I passed over Greenville, S.C., at 12,500 feet, both fuel gauges showed the tanks nearly empty.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot flying a Cessna T210R experienced inexplicably low fuel gauge readings mid-flight, prompting a precautionary landing despite confirming proper pre-flight fueling.
During the descent for the emergency landing, the engine failed, forcing a successful deadstick landing into trees that significantly damaged the aircraft but caused only minor injury to the pilot.
The initial investigation found the fuel tanks empty, baffling authorities as calculations indicated ample fuel remaining; the mystery was later resolved by the discovery that trapped air in similar aircraft's tanks after maintenance could prevent full fueling.

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I was flying my Cessna T210R Turbo Centurion from the Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in White Plains, N.Y., to the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK) in Atlanta, Ga., on a dark night. I departed KHPN IFR but encountered unlimited visibility over North Carolina and cancelled. Before takeoff, I observed line personnel fill both fuel tanks. I had planned to have an hour’s fuel reserve on landing at PDK, and there hadn’t been any unforecast headwinds. However, as I passed over Greenville, S.C., at 12,500 feet, both fuel gauges showed the tanks nearly empty.

Wiggling the fuel gauge wires behind the panel sometimes fixes an inaccurate reading, but this time there was no change. While I was confident my fuel calculations were correct, I decided to make a precautionary landing. From 12,500 feet, I could spiral down to Greenville or descend for Toccoa, Ga., some 50 nm ahead. I chose Toccoa.