Fuel exhaustion — Cirrus SR22 private flight

Summary

A Cirrus SR22 G6 private flight from Albury to Canberra experienced engine stoppage due to fuel exhaustion approximately 15 nm short of the destination. The pilot deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) successfully, and the aircraft landed under the parachute in open farmland. The pilot sustained minor bruising; the aircraft was substantially damaged.

Investigation Findings (5)

1. 01Pre-flight fuel planning relied on GPS estimated time of arrival without accounting for headwind component.
2. 02Actual fuel burn was 18% higher than planned due to sustained headwinds of 35 knots.
3. 03Pilot did not conduct fuel state check against GPS groundspeed during flight.
4. 04CAPS deployment was successful and within manufacturer parameters.
5. 05ATSB recommends mandatory fuel state crosscheck procedure at route midpoint for GA operations.