"On March 12, 2005, a 24,611-hour ATP made a forced landing in an open field after a total loss of engine power while on a visual approach to Runway 13 at Lancaster Airport in Lancaster, Texas. He and the one passenger were not injured.
The pilot did not visually check the fuel tanks prior to takeoff and could not recall "what the fuel gauges indicated" during the flight.
He thought both auxiliary fuel tanks were full, and both main fuel tanks were almost full. While descending for the approach, the pilot moved the fuel selector valve from the left main tank to the right main tank"
Here is where we believe accurate or at least functional fuel level comes into play - The pilot did not look at his gauges - if he had, and they were operating as designed - He probably would not have switched to an empty fuel tank.
Very shortly after, the engine quit. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector valve back to the left tank and cycling the throttle.
It is interesting that the neither the FAA nor NTSB tested this aircraft's fuel gauges for operation. They only tested the engine.
We have all become complacent that aircraft fuel gauges can offer little or no assistance to fuel starvation in our mode of transportation.
One aircraft manufacturer has looked at this issue and did something about it - why guess if the tank you are switching to holds fuel.
Cirrus Aircraft has incorporated accurate fuel level - and with accurate fuel level you may eliminate switching to an empty tank.
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