Emergency off airport landing performed after small aircraft suffers fuel starvation after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	229538
Time
Date	199212
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : etb
State Reference	WI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 700 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hrl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 151 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	229538
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had 3/4 of a tank full in the right tank but took off with the left tank which was near empty. I have lost an engine due to icing and recovered quickly. (In that case, I took off with carburetor heat because I noted icing at runup but turned it off after liftoff as I had been instructed.) this time there was no indication of icing at runup. The first thought of an engine out was 'icing' and I acted accordingly. At my low altitude, my attention went to finding a field and getting there. During instruction very little attention was given to the fuel switch and I was never required to switch it in flight. When checking out a pilot who has only flown planes with 1 fuel source (even the small aircraft is normally on 'both'), attention should be directed to this switch, requiring the operation during flight, etc. I knew well about the switch but in the heat of the situation it did not come to mind. To this date, I can't understand why I didn't switch over before takeoff. Since the event, I have received suggestions from other pilots which should have come from instructors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER OFF ARPT LNDG PERFORMED AFTER SMA SUFFERS FUEL STARVATION AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: I HAD 3/4 OF A TANK FULL IN THE R TANK BUT TOOK OFF WITH THE L TANK WHICH WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAVE LOST AN ENG DUE TO ICING AND RECOVERED QUICKLY. (IN THAT CASE, I TOOK OFF WITH CARB HEAT BECAUSE I NOTED ICING AT RUNUP BUT TURNED IT OFF AFTER LIFTOFF AS I HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED.) THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ICING AT RUNUP. THE FIRST THOUGHT OF AN ENG OUT WAS 'ICING' AND I ACTED ACCORDINGLY. AT MY LOW ALT, MY ATTN WENT TO FINDING A FIELD AND GETTING THERE. DURING INSTRUCTION VERY LITTLE ATTN WAS GIVEN TO THE FUEL SWITCH AND I WAS NEVER REQUIRED TO SWITCH IT IN FLT. WHEN CHKING OUT A PLT WHO HAS ONLY FLOWN PLANES WITH 1 FUEL SOURCE (EVEN THE SMA IS NORMALLY ON 'BOTH'), ATTN SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THIS SWITCH, REQUIRING THE OP DURING FLT, ETC. I KNEW WELL ABOUT THE SWITCH BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE SIT IT DID NOT COME TO MIND. TO THIS DATE, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I DIDN'T SWITCH OVER BEFORE TKOF. SINCE THE EVENT, I HAVE RECEIVED SUGGESTIONS FROM OTHER PLTS WHICH SHOULD HAVE COME FROM INSTRUCTORS.

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.