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Pilot of small transport 2 engine aircraft inadvertently allowed fuel to remain selected to auxiliary tanks until engines quit.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 125221 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198910 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ind |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3900 msl bound upper : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ind |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 75 |
| ASRS Report | 125221 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was cruising, with fuel supply from 2 rear auxiliary tanks. Both tanks ran dry within 10 seconds of each other, right over ind. I had selected these tanks at approximately the same time, instead of staggering the time. When the left engine lost power, I switched both sides to the other auxiliary tanks, which were both empty. The engine did not return to power, so I told approach control I had a fuel problem. After further troubleshooting, I discovered my mistake and switched both engines to the main tanks, then both engines returned to normal power. I lost 600' in the process, so I climbed back to 4500'. Then ATC asked me if I could maintain 4500', and if I still had a problem, I said I could maintain 4500' and had no problem now. My recommendation for fuel management is now - don't switch to auxiliary tanks at the same time, and don't run them or any tank dry.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF SMT 2 ENGINE ACFT INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED FUEL TO REMAIN SELECTED TO AUXILIARY TANKS UNTIL ENGINES QUIT.
Narrative: I WAS CRUISING, WITH FUEL SUPPLY FROM 2 REAR AUX TANKS. BOTH TANKS RAN DRY WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF EACH OTHER, RIGHT OVER IND. I HAD SELECTED THESE TANKS AT APPROX THE SAME TIME, INSTEAD OF STAGGERING THE TIME. WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER, I SWITCHED BOTH SIDES TO THE OTHER AUX TANKS, WHICH WERE BOTH EMPTY. THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO POWER, SO I TOLD APCH CTL I HAD A FUEL PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING, I DISCOVERED MY MISTAKE AND SWITCHED BOTH ENGINES TO THE MAIN TANKS, THEN BOTH ENGINES RETURNED TO NORMAL POWER. I LOST 600' IN THE PROCESS, SO I CLIMBED BACK TO 4500'. THEN ATC ASKED ME IF I COULD MAINTAIN 4500', AND IF I STILL HAD A PROBLEM, I SAID I COULD MAINTAIN 4500' AND HAD NO PROBLEM NOW. MY RECOMMENDATION FOR FUEL MGMNT IS NOW - DON'T SWITCH TO AUX TANKS AT THE SAME TIME, AND DON'T RUN THEM OR ANY TANK DRY.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.