Narrative:

I was on a flight to santa barbara under IFR control. After reaching cruise altitude of 6000 ft MSL, I noticed the fuel pressure indicator had dropped to the bottom of the red. I tried switching tanks on my TB10, but that had no effect. I turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and that lifted the pressure indicator to the very bottom of the green -- still indicating minimal fuel pressure. The engine appeared to be running smoothly, however. After turning the back-up fuel pump off, the indicator again fell to the bottom of the red. I informed ATC that I was having a problem with the fuel pressure and was asked if I wanted to declare an emergency. I declared an emergency and told ATC I'd like to land at oxnard airport which was practically below me. I was told I'd be given vectors to the localizer for the approach into oxnard. During this time, I needed to give a safety briefing to my 2 passenger and go through my emergency landing checklist. I noticed that, at one point I was about 300 ft above my assigned 6000 ft altitude, but ATC did not mention this. On the approach, ATC did mention at one point that I appeared to be south of course, I believe, and asked if I was correcting. I told them I was. I was not asked upon landing to fill out any forms or contact anyone. The local security officer came by. I asked if I needed to fill out anything, he said no. My altitude and course deviations were, of course. Unintentional, brought about I'm sure by the distraction of dealing with my in-flight emergency. Corrections were made right away. There was plenty of fuel onboard -- about 5 hours worth. I had the plane topped off prior to the flight -- I was only airborne about 35 mins when the fuel pressure indicator dropped into the red zone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT PLT IN A TB10 EXPERIENCES AN ALTDEV DURING AN EMER SIT WHEN HIS FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE IS REGISTERING IN THE RED.

Narrative: I WAS ON A FLT TO SANTA BARBARA UNDER IFR CTL. AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALT OF 6000 FT MSL, I NOTICED THE FUEL PRESSURE INDICATOR HAD DROPPED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RED. I TRIED SWITCHING TANKS ON MY TB10, BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. I TURNED ON THE AUX FUEL PUMP AND THAT LIFTED THE PRESSURE INDICATOR TO THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE GREEN -- STILL INDICATING MINIMAL FUEL PRESSURE. THE ENG APPEARED TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY, HOWEVER. AFTER TURNING THE BACK-UP FUEL PUMP OFF, THE INDICATOR AGAIN FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RED. I INFORMED ATC THAT I WAS HAVING A PROB WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE AND WAS ASKED IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER. I DECLARED AN EMER AND TOLD ATC I'D LIKE TO LAND AT OXNARD ARPT WHICH WAS PRACTICALLY BELOW ME. I WAS TOLD I'D BE GIVEN VECTORS TO THE LOC FOR THE APCH INTO OXNARD. DURING THIS TIME, I NEEDED TO GIVE A SAFETY BRIEFING TO MY 2 PAX AND GO THROUGH MY EMER LNDG CHKLIST. I NOTICED THAT, AT ONE POINT I WAS ABOUT 300 FT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED 6000 FT ALT, BUT ATC DID NOT MENTION THIS. ON THE APCH, ATC DID MENTION AT ONE POINT THAT I APPEARED TO BE S OF COURSE, I BELIEVE, AND ASKED IF I WAS CORRECTING. I TOLD THEM I WAS. I WAS NOT ASKED UPON LNDG TO FILL OUT ANY FORMS OR CONTACT ANYONE. THE LCL SECURITY OFFICER CAME BY. I ASKED IF I NEEDED TO FILL OUT ANYTHING, HE SAID NO. MY ALT AND COURSE DEVS WERE, OF COURSE. UNINTENTIONAL, BROUGHT ABOUT I'M SURE BY THE DISTR OF DEALING WITH MY INFLT EMER. CORRECTIONS WERE MADE RIGHT AWAY. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL ONBOARD -- ABOUT 5 HRS WORTH. I HAD THE PLANE TOPPED OFF PRIOR TO THE FLT -- I WAS ONLY AIRBORNE ABOUT 35 MINS WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE INDICATOR DROPPED INTO THE RED ZONE.

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.