A PA28-235 CFI forgets to switch tanks from the wingtip to main and the engine fails while at 8000 f...

Attributes
ACN	432090
Time
Date	199903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : top.airport
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	432090
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The aircraft flown had 4 tanks. The tip tanks carry 17 gallons each and the fuel burn was approximately 14 gph. After not checking the time lately and after more than an hour on the left tip tank, the engine quit. I promptly pushed the throttle, propeller control and mixture forward. The engine failed to start. I turned towards an airport and changed fuel tanks. The engine started and I continued on my flight. I lost 2500 ft or maybe 1500 ft and deviated slightly off course. I don't remember the exact altitude deviation because I was concerned about other things.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28-235 CFI FORGETS TO SWITCH TANKS FROM THE WINGTIP TO MAIN AND THE ENG FAILS WHILE AT 8000 FT.

Narrative: THE ACFT FLOWN HAD 4 TANKS. THE TIP TANKS CARRY 17 GALLONS EACH AND THE FUEL BURN WAS APPROX 14 GPH. AFTER NOT CHKING THE TIME LATELY AND AFTER MORE THAN AN HR ON THE L TIP TANK, THE ENG QUIT. I PROMPTLY PUSHED THE THROTTLE, PROP CTL AND MIXTURE FORWARD. THE ENG FAILED TO START. I TURNED TOWARDS AN ARPT AND CHANGED FUEL TANKS. THE ENG STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON MY FLT. I LOST 2500 FT OR MAYBE 1500 FT AND DEVIATED SLIGHTLY OFF COURSE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT ALTDEV BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

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.

A PA28-235 CFI forgets to switch tanks from the wingtip to main and the engine fails while at 8000 ft.