Beech K35 bonanza suffers from fuel starvation when fuel selector is positioned improperly.

Attributes
ACN	348084
Time
Date	199609
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cou
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1100 msl bound upper : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cou
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 780 flight time type : 27
ASRS Report	348084
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During an ILS approach, while level for spacing, fuel tanks switched from auxiliary to right main. Approximately 1 min later engine quit. Attempt to restart failed (switched tanks, fuel pump on, etc). Power off landing in a pasture followed with no injuries and no damage to the aircraft. I believe that on this model of bonanza, the fuel selector is unreliable because there are no detents for each tank. Visually a line is matched with the selector, but there is still no way to feel if the lever is positioned properly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BEECH K35 BONANZA SUFFERS FROM FUEL STARVATION WHEN FUEL SELECTOR IS POSITIONED IMPROPERLY.

Narrative: DURING AN ILS APCH, WHILE LEVEL FOR SPACING, FUEL TANKS SWITCHED FROM AUX TO R MAIN. APPROX 1 MIN LATER ENG QUIT. ATTEMPT TO RESTART FAILED (SWITCHED TANKS, FUEL PUMP ON, ETC). PWR OFF LNDG IN A PASTURE FOLLOWED WITH NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. I BELIEVE THAT ON THIS MODEL OF BONANZA, THE FUEL SELECTOR IS UNRELIABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DETENTS FOR EACH TANK. VISUALLY A LINE IS MATCHED WITH THE SELECTOR, BUT THERE IS STILL NO WAY TO FEEL IF THE LEVER IS POSITIONED PROPERLY.

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.