Narrative:

While descending to 2000 ft en route to miami-opa locka airport, (opf), the engine of the C210L I was flying suddenly quit. At the time, I had just been cleared for a visual approach and told 'frequency change approved.' when the engine quit, my first reaction was to switch fuel tanks and engage the electric fuel pump. The engine ran for about 2 seconds and then quit again. At this time, I went back to miami approach frequency and transmitted 'mayday.' I briefly explained that I had engine trouble and was told that opa locka west, (X46) was nearby. I tried the electric fuel pump again and the engine started up and ran smoothly. I was able to continue to opf and land safely. Upon landing, I found that one tank was nearly empty. Primary cause for this incident I believe was improper fuel management. A contributing factor was my own inexperience in C210 aircraft, which are unlike many other cessnas because of the lack of a 'both' position on the fuel selector. The training program that my company offers for new pilots was very good. We practiced many simulated engine failures and I believe that the excellent training helped to avoid a disastrous situation. Proper fuel management was also stressed, but this was one lesson that I ended up teaching myself in the airplane. I was very fortunate that all ended well.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN A C210 DECLARES AN EMER WHEN HIS ENG QUITS AND HE CAN'T RESTART THE ENG ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. DISCOVERS THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON AN EMPTY TANK. THE C210 DOES NOT HAVE A 'BOTH TANKS' POS. RESTARTS ON THE SECOND TRY. PLT HAD 30 HRS IN TYPE.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING TO 2000 FT ENRTE TO MIAMI-OPA LOCKA ARPT, (OPF), THE ENG OF THE C210L I WAS FLYING SUDDENLY QUIT. AT THE TIME, I HAD JUST BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH AND TOLD 'FREQ CHANGE APPROVED.' WHEN THE ENG QUIT, MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND ENGAGE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE ENG RAN FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. AT THIS TIME, I WENT BACK TO MIAMI APCH FREQ AND XMITTED 'MAYDAY.' I BRIEFLY EXPLAINED THAT I HAD ENG TROUBLE AND WAS TOLD THAT OPA LOCKA WEST, (X46) WAS NEARBY. I TRIED THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AGAIN AND THE ENG STARTED UP AND RAN SMOOTHLY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPF AND LAND SAFELY. UPON LNDG, I FOUND THAT ONE TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THIS INCIDENT I BELIEVE WAS IMPROPER FUEL MGMNT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS MY OWN INEXPERIENCE IN C210 ACFT, WHICH ARE UNLIKE MANY OTHER CESSNAS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A 'BOTH' POS ON THE FUEL SELECTOR. THE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT MY COMPANY OFFERS FOR NEW PLTS WAS VERY GOOD. WE PRACTICED MANY SIMULATED ENG FAILURES AND I BELIEVE THAT THE EXCELLENT TRAINING HELPED TO AVOID A DISASTROUS SIT. PROPER FUEL MGMNT WAS ALSO STRESSED, BUT THIS WAS ONE LESSON THAT I ENDED UP TEACHING MYSELF IN THE AIRPLANE. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT ALL ENDED WELL.

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.