Aa-1 engine quit after pilot switched fuel tanks.

Attributes
ACN	427849
Time
Date	199811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : toa.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tol.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Yankee
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	427849
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airspace Structure	class c : tol.c

Narrative:

On final approach, 1/2 mi to the end of runway, I performed my landing checklist. I switched fuel tanks to the one with the most fuel. In about 1 min, the engine quit. For a few seconds, I thought I had carburetor ice. Then I switched back to the other tank. The engine did not restart. I called the tower to report that I was not going to make the runway due to engine failure. Then I again started to switch fuel tanks and I again activated the fuel pump switch, on and off, and after about 30-45 seconds, with fuel selector turned back to the fullest tank, the engine suddenly started, and everything returned to normal. I called the tower and told them that I would be able to make the end of the runway, as everything was normal. I made a normal landing, and have flown about 10 hours since, and the fuel system seems to be normal once again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AA-1 ENG QUIT AFTER PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS.

Narrative: ON FINAL APCH, 1/2 MI TO THE END OF RWY, I PERFORMED MY LNDG CHKLIST. I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS TO THE ONE WITH THE MOST FUEL. IN ABOUT 1 MIN, THE ENG QUIT. FOR A FEW SECONDS, I THOUGHT I HAD CARB ICE. THEN I SWITCHED BACK TO THE OTHER TANK. THE ENG DID NOT RESTART. I CALLED THE TWR TO RPT THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RWY DUE TO ENG FAILURE. THEN I AGAIN STARTED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND I AGAIN ACTIVATED THE FUEL PUMP SWITCH, ON AND OFF, AND AFTER ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS, WITH FUEL SELECTOR TURNED BACK TO THE FULLEST TANK, THE ENG SUDDENLY STARTED, AND EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. I CALLED THE TWR AND TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE END OF THE RWY, AS EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. I MADE A NORMAL LNDG, AND HAVE FLOWN ABOUT 10 HRS SINCE, AND THE FUEL SYS SEEMS TO BE NORMAL ONCE AGAIN.

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.