The pilot of a be-55 reported a loss of power to one engine after switching fuel tanks. After switch...

Attributes
ACN	1326435
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Selector
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300 Flight Crew Total 22000 Flight Crew Type 800
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

During practice approach; was receiving vectors on the downwind for ILS. Knowing fob [fuel on board] to be limited (checked visually and measured with shading prior to flight); selected auxiliary tanks in downwind cruise to optimize burn. After approximately 3 minutes; the right (#2) engine began losing power; with fuel flow fluctuations. Based on previous experience; I immediately selected main tank; expecting the engine to not lose power at all. However; the #2 did not regain power; and after about 20 seconds; I elected to land from the downwind; [after notifying ATC]. On base leg; was switched to tower; and feathered the #2 engine. Turned final; completed an uneventful single engine landing and taxied clear of [the runway]. As I suspected; the auxiliary tank; upon fueling was empty. However; the main tank had approximately 17 gallons; with a total of 34 (1hour 30 min endurance) gallons on board. I am having my mechanic check the fuel valve.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The pilot of a BE-55 reported a loss of power to one engine after switching fuel tanks. After switching back to the main tank; engine did not recover; so it was feathered; followed by a successful landing.

Narrative: During practice approach; was receiving vectors on the downwind for ILS. Knowing FOB [fuel on board] to be limited (checked visually and measured with Shading prior to flight); selected AUX tanks in downwind cruise to optimize burn. After approximately 3 minutes; the right (#2) engine began losing power; with fuel flow fluctuations. Based on previous experience; I immediately selected main tank; expecting the engine to not lose power at all. However; the #2 did not regain power; and after about 20 seconds; I elected to land from the downwind; [after notifying ATC]. On base leg; was switched to Tower; and feathered the #2 engine. Turned final; completed an uneventful single engine landing and taxied clear of [the runway]. As I suspected; the AUX tank; upon fueling was empty. However; the main tank had approximately 17 gallons; with a total of 34 (1hour 30 min endurance) gallons on board. I am having my mechanic check the fuel valve.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

The pilot of a be-55 reported a loss of power to one engine after switching fuel tanks. After switching back to the main tank; engine did not recover; so it was feathered; followed by a successful landing.