Narrative:

I was climbing to 8;500 ft approximately 7 NM north northeast of [the nearest airport] when the engine quit at approximately 6;500 ft. I had noticed the fuel pressure dropping right before the engine quit. The fuel gauge is not particularly accurate but I knew that the left tank was very low. The tank had run dry which was not a great surprise. As soon as the engine stopped; I turned the aux fuel pump on and switched to the center main tank. The engine did not start which did surprise me. I pushed over to establish best glide speed and turned towards [the nearest airport] which was close but still far enough that I would need to head there directly. I double checked that the aux pump was on; I moved the mixture to rich; and I visually checked that the fuel selector was on the center tank. I tried adjusting the throttle and carb heat; but to no avail. I also check the mags; but given how the engine just wound down; it seemed unlikely that it was an ignition problem. I had been monitoring approach. So I contacted the controller and declared an emergency. I told him that I was about 7 NM north; passing through 5;500 ft; had lost my engine; was squawking 7700 and there was only one sole on board. He cleared me for runway 18. Given that I was trying to figure out why the engine would not restart; I was not sure which runway was 18. I told the controller that I was heading to the runway on my right which was the closer of the two. He confirmed that it was 18 and cleared me in. There still was no fuel pressure even with the aux pump on. So I turned the fuel selector to the right tank and the engine started up within a second or two. I leveled off as it spun up and then started to climb to regain altitude in case it failed again. Although; I was pretty sure I had resolved the problem. I switched the selector back to the center main tank and felt the positive tick of the indentation. The engine continued to run. I called the controller to terminate the emergency and let him know all was well.when I originally switched to the center tank; I must not have fully engaged the selector. When I ran through the checklist I should have physically checked the selector rather than just visually confirmed it was on the correct tank. If I had wiggled the selector; I probably would have moved it into the operable position.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The pilot of a Grumman Avenger declared an emergency when his engine failed to restart after switching to the center tank following the anticipated depletion of fuel from the left tank. While setting up for an emergency landing his trouble shooting lead to selecting the right tank and the engine immediately returned to life.

Narrative: I was climbing to 8;500 FT approximately 7 NM north northeast of [the nearest airport] when the engine quit at approximately 6;500 FT. I had noticed the fuel pressure dropping right before the engine quit. The fuel gauge is not particularly accurate but I knew that the left tank was very low. The tank had run dry which was not a great surprise. As soon as the engine stopped; I turned the aux fuel pump on and switched to the center main tank. The engine did not start which did surprise me. I pushed over to establish best glide speed and turned towards [the nearest airport] which was close but still far enough that I would need to head there directly. I double checked that the aux pump was on; I moved the mixture to rich; and I visually checked that the fuel selector was on the center tank. I tried adjusting the throttle and carb heat; but to no avail. I also check the mags; but given how the engine just wound down; it seemed unlikely that it was an ignition problem. I had been monitoring Approach. So I contacted the Controller and declared an emergency. I told him that I was about 7 NM north; passing through 5;500 FT; had lost my engine; was squawking 7700 and there was only one sole on board. He cleared me for Runway 18. Given that I was trying to figure out why the engine would not restart; I was not sure which runway was 18. I told the Controller that I was heading to the runway on my right which was the closer of the two. He confirmed that it was 18 and cleared me in. There still was no fuel pressure even with the aux pump on. So I turned the fuel selector to the right tank and the engine started up within a second or two. I leveled off as it spun up and then started to climb to regain altitude in case it failed again. Although; I was pretty sure I had resolved the problem. I switched the selector back to the center main tank and felt the positive tick of the indentation. The engine continued to run. I called the Controller to terminate the emergency and let him know all was well.When I originally switched to the center tank; I must not have fully engaged the selector. When I ran through the checklist I should have physically checked the selector rather than just visually confirmed it was on the correct tank. If I had wiggled the selector; I probably would have moved it into the operable position.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.