Pilot on cross country noticed fuel cap was missing and fuel was leaking out. The pilot already on orl approach confessed the 'slight emergency' because fuel cap was missing. Coordination with mco tower was accomplished for an emergency landing. Emergency vehicles were standing by. FAA met the reporter and after hearing the story said well done.

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Attributes
ACN	331349
Time
Date	199603
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orl airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 63 flight time type : 63
ASRS Report	331349
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I don't know how the problem arose but while on a cross country to ocala I happened to look over to my left wing and noticed that the fuel cap was missing and fuel was leaking out. I was already on orlando approach for flight following, so I informed approach that I had a 'slight emergency' because my fuel cap was missing and I was losing a little fuel. He told me to stand by and contacted orlando international tower where I was cleared for an emergency landing. Emergency vehicles were waiting when I landed and taxied me over to one of the FBO's where I contacted mr X, owner of FBO, and flight service to close and cancel my other flight plans. Another fuel cap was sent over while I talked to an FAA guy, giving him the details of the flight and all pertinent information. I was told that I handled the situation very well. To prevent another recurrence definitely make sure that both fuel caps are secure during the preflight and during your takeoff roll and climb out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON XCOUNTRY NOTICED FUEL CAP WAS MISSING AND FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT. THE PLT ALREADY ON ORL APCH CONFESSED THE 'SLIGHT EMER' BECAUSE FUEL CAP WAS MISSING. COORD WITH MCO TWR WAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR AN EMER LNDG. EMER VEHICLES WERE STANDING BY. FAA MET THE RPTR AND AFTER HEARING THE STORY SAID WELL DONE.

Narrative: I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROB AROSE BUT WHILE ON A XCOUNTRY TO OCALA I HAPPENED TO LOOK OVER TO MY L WING AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS MISSING AND FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT. I WAS ALREADY ON ORLANDO APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING, SO I INFORMED APCH THAT I HAD A 'SLIGHT EMER' BECAUSE MY FUEL CAP WAS MISSING AND I WAS LOSING A LITTLE FUEL. HE TOLD ME TO STAND BY AND CONTACTED ORLANDO INTL TWR WHERE I WAS CLRED FOR AN EMER LNDG. EMER VEHICLES WERE WAITING WHEN I LANDED AND TAXIED ME OVER TO ONE OF THE FBO'S WHERE I CONTACTED MR X, OWNER OF FBO, AND FLT SVC TO CLOSE AND CANCEL MY OTHER FLT PLANS. ANOTHER FUEL CAP WAS SENT OVER WHILE I TALKED TO AN FAA GUY, GIVING HIM THE DETAILS OF THE FLT AND ALL PERTINENT INFO. I WAS TOLD THAT I HANDLED THE SIT VERY WELL. TO PREVENT ANOTHER RECURRENCE DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT BOTH FUEL CAPS ARE SECURE DURING THE PREFLT AND DURING YOUR TKOF ROLL AND CLBOUT.

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.