Emergency declared unnecessarily.

Attributes
ACN	289717
Time
Date	199411
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hec airport : wjf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mhk
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute airway : edw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1240 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	289717
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks approximately 1 hour 30 mins after takeoff. Approximately 50 mins after switching tanks, the left engine failed. The left auxiliary fuel tank had exhausted its fuel supply. After troubleshooting the cause of the engine failure, the fuel selectors were placed back on the main tanks. The left engine came back on line, but there was significant 'coughing and sputtering.' we declared an emergency and received vectors to fox field. I then activated the auxiliary fuel pump on high, which subsequently cleared the vapor from the line and the engine resumed normal operations. We decided to land anyway and confirm that, indeed, vapor was the problem. It was, and after refueling the auxiliary tanks, we resumed our trip. We were probably a little hasty in declaring the emergency, however, and I sincerely hope that no one was inconvenienced as a result. We advised ATC that emergency assistance was no longer needed once the engine resumed normal operation. In the future, I will teach students to time the operations on the auxiliary tanks rather than use the gauges. It will also be advisable that only 45 mins of time be spent using these tanks. Also, it is not a good idea to run a tank dry even if you have more fuel in another tank. Vapor lock can cause a loss of the engine. I view this as a learning experience.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED UNNECESSARILY.

Narrative: WE SWITCHED TO THE AUX FUEL TANKS APPROX 1 HR 30 MINS AFTER TKOF. APPROX 50 MINS AFTER SWITCHING TANKS, THE L ENG FAILED. THE L AUX FUEL TANK HAD EXHAUSTED ITS FUEL SUPPLY. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE CAUSE OF THE ENG FAILURE, THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE PLACED BACK ON THE MAIN TANKS. THE L ENG CAME BACK ON LINE, BUT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT 'COUGHING AND SPUTTERING.' WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO FOX FIELD. I THEN ACTIVATED THE AUX FUEL PUMP ON HIGH, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED THE VAPOR FROM THE LINE AND THE ENG RESUMED NORMAL OPS. WE DECIDED TO LAND ANYWAY AND CONFIRM THAT, INDEED, VAPOR WAS THE PROB. IT WAS, AND AFTER REFUELING THE AUX TANKS, WE RESUMED OUR TRIP. WE WERE PROBABLY A LITTLE HASTY IN DECLARING THE EMER, HOWEVER, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NO ONE WAS INCONVENIENCED AS A RESULT. WE ADVISED ATC THAT EMER ASSISTANCE WAS NO LONGER NEEDED ONCE THE ENG RESUMED NORMAL OP. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL TEACH STUDENTS TO TIME THE OPS ON THE AUX TANKS RATHER THAN USE THE GAUGES. IT WILL ALSO BE ADVISABLE THAT ONLY 45 MINS OF TIME BE SPENT USING THESE TANKS. ALSO, IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO RUN A TANK DRY EVEN IF YOU HAVE MORE FUEL IN ANOTHER TANK. VAPOR LOCK CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF THE ENG. I VIEW THIS AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

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.