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BE58 pilot reported mismanagement of fuel crossfeed resulted in a loss of power and an altitude excursion until power was restored.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1619702 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201902 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Baron 58/58TC |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Fuel Crossfeed |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 2800 Flight Crew Type 1500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
Narrative:
Had a small fuel imbalance. Decided to cross feed #1 engine from #2 tank. I recollect thinking I need to set a timer - but I forgot to. The #2 tank got depleted and #1 engine lost power. As soon as I realized that I had lost power; I realized what had happened. I switched both engines to tank #1; restored power; and regained lost altitude and resumed track. #1 engine took 15-30 seconds to restore power; though #2 engine regained power immediately. I had to restore fuel flow to #1 engine by using the electric boost pump.as I lost altitude earlier; and deviated from heading; ATC queried my deviation; and I told them I needed to descend and they could vector me as necessary. I did not want to lose airspeed by trying to climb on single engine. An air restart would be easier if the engine was wind milling.error was in using cross feed in a situation where the cross feeding was not essential to safety of flight; then not setting a reminder to remove cross feed; and subsequently causing fuel starvation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: BE58 pilot reported mismanagement of fuel crossfeed resulted in a loss of power and an altitude excursion until power was restored.
Narrative: Had a small fuel imbalance. Decided to cross feed #1 engine from #2 tank. I recollect thinking I need to set a timer - but I forgot to. The #2 tank got depleted and #1 engine lost power. As soon as I realized that I had lost power; I realized what had happened. I switched both engines to tank #1; restored power; and regained lost altitude and resumed track. #1 engine took 15-30 seconds to restore power; though #2 engine regained power immediately. I had to restore fuel flow to #1 engine by using the electric boost pump.As I lost altitude earlier; and deviated from heading; ATC queried my deviation; and I told them I needed to descend and they could vector me as necessary. I did not want to lose airspeed by trying to climb on single engine. An air restart would be easier if the engine was wind milling.Error was in using cross feed in a situation where the cross feeding was not essential to safety of flight; then not setting a reminder to remove cross feed; and subsequently causing fuel starvation.
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.