Pilot of small transport in cruise had engine quit. Using high boost managed to restart engine.

Attributes
ACN	184065
Time
Date	199107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dab
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	184065
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight from gso to lal I lost the left engine due to fuel starvation. I forgot to switch from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. I was so involved with 'working' WX time got away from me. I switched to main tanks immediately but the engine did not start up. After 30 seconds or so I declared an emergency and was prepared to land at daytona. I then tried high boost and the engine fired and I cancelled the emergency. We have a timer in the airplane which we watch as to when to change tanks. Perhaps we should install fuel flow meters. This won't happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT IN CRUISE HAD ENG QUIT. USING HIGH BOOST MANAGED TO RESTART ENG.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT FROM GSO TO LAL I LOST THE L ENG DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. I FORGOT TO SWITCH FROM THE AUX TANK TO THE MAIN TANK. I WAS SO INVOLVED WITH 'WORKING' WX TIME GOT AWAY FROM ME. I SWITCHED TO MAIN TANKS IMMEDIATELY BUT THE ENG DID NOT START UP. AFTER 30 SECONDS OR SO I DECLARED AN EMER AND WAS PREPARED TO LAND AT DAYTONA. I THEN TRIED HIGH BOOST AND THE ENG FIRED AND I CANCELLED THE EMER. WE HAVE A TIMER IN THE AIRPLANE WHICH WE WATCH AS TO WHEN TO CHANGE TANKS. PERHAPS WE SHOULD INSTALL FUEL FLOW METERS. THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.