GA small aircraft fuel pump failure at cruise altitude.

Attributes
ACN	194613
Time
Date	199110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 180 flight time type : 4
ASRS Report	194613
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A low fuel pressure situation arose suddenly upon power up for cruise after level off from a 2000 ft descent. Boost pump activation allowed maintenance of altitude. An emergency was declared and a landing effected at sna. The engine died on rollout from the runway and could not be restarted. Fuel system examination revealed a faulty diaphragm in the engine driver fuel pump. The aircraft was a 1960 small aircraft. Corrective measures might include pump redesign to preclude sudden catastrophic failure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT CRUISE ALT.

Narrative: A LOW FUEL PRESSURE SITUATION AROSE SUDDENLY UPON PWR UP FOR CRUISE AFTER LEVEL OFF FROM A 2000 FT DSCNT. BOOST PUMP ACTIVATION ALLOWED MAINT OF ALT. AN EMER WAS DECLARED AND A LNDG EFFECTED AT SNA. THE ENG DIED ON ROLLOUT FROM THE RWY AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. FUEL SYS EXAMINATION REVEALED A FAULTY DIAPHRAGM IN THE ENG DRIVER FUEL PUMP. THE ACFT WAS A 1960 SMA. CORRECTIVE MEASURES MIGHT INCLUDE PUMP REDESIGN TO PRECLUDE SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

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.