Piper PA46 pilot declared an emergency due to low fuel and diverted to land when the engine started ...

Attributes
ACN	542956
Time
Date	200204
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdl.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-46 Malibu
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	542956
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine power/fuel quantity ind other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Departed dvo (navato, ca) on IFR flight plan direct to P19 (steller, az). Fuel computation estimated 54 gals required for flight. I put in approximately 72+ gals. VFR conditions were predominant over entire flight course including destination. Sfo clearance delayed my climb for approximately 30-45 mins and the climb used more fuel than anticipated. I notified ATC about 1 hour from phoenix, az, that I had minimum fuel. Then about 30 mins out notified of low fuel and plan to divert to sdl (scottsdale, az). (I encountered moderate turbulence on descent.) engine started sputtering about 8 NM from sdl. I tried emergency procedures and notified ATC which provided vectors to sdl. Engine stopped several times but I was able to get enough lift to make it to airport (sdl) and landed without incident. On subsequent fill-up we showed 5 gals in tanks which meant approximately 8-9 gals at start of engine problems. Consulted with mechanic (malibu specialist) and was advised of 'known' problem with low fuel and turbulence or steep turn causing fuel starvation. This should be relayed to malibu pilots. Flight time was estimated at 3 hours 20 mins, actual was 3 hours 20 mins to 3 hours 30 mins. Fuel onboard was 5 hours 5 mins to 5 hours 15 mins (more if reduced settings). Advise that PA46-310 (350?) pilots be notified of possible fuel starvation indications on combination of low fuel (under 10 gals) and turbulence and or steep turns.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA46 PLT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO LOW FUEL AND DIVERTED TO LAND WHEN THE ENG STARTED QUITTING DUE TO A LACK OF FUEL.

Narrative: DEPARTED DVO (NAVATO, CA) ON IFR FLT PLAN DIRECT TO P19 (STELLER, AZ). FUEL COMPUTATION ESTIMATED 54 GALS REQUIRED FOR FLT. I PUT IN APPROX 72+ GALS. VFR CONDITIONS WERE PREDOMINANT OVER ENTIRE FLT COURSE INCLUDING DEST. SFO CLRNC DELAYED MY CLB FOR APPROX 30-45 MINS AND THE CLB USED MORE FUEL THAN ANTICIPATED. I NOTIFIED ATC ABOUT 1 HR FROM PHOENIX, AZ, THAT I HAD MINIMUM FUEL. THEN ABOUT 30 MINS OUT NOTIFIED OF LOW FUEL AND PLAN TO DIVERT TO SDL (SCOTTSDALE, AZ). (I ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB ON DSCNT.) ENG STARTED SPUTTERING ABOUT 8 NM FROM SDL. I TRIED EMER PROCS AND NOTIFIED ATC WHICH PROVIDED VECTORS TO SDL. ENG STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET ENOUGH LIFT TO MAKE IT TO ARPT (SDL) AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON SUBSEQUENT FILL-UP WE SHOWED 5 GALS IN TANKS WHICH MEANT APPROX 8-9 GALS AT START OF ENG PROBS. CONSULTED WITH MECH (MALIBU SPECIALIST) AND WAS ADVISED OF 'KNOWN' PROB WITH LOW FUEL AND TURB OR STEEP TURN CAUSING FUEL STARVATION. THIS SHOULD BE RELAYED TO MALIBU PLTS. FLT TIME WAS ESTIMATED AT 3 HRS 20 MINS, ACTUAL WAS 3 HRS 20 MINS TO 3 HRS 30 MINS. FUEL ONBOARD WAS 5 HRS 5 MINS TO 5 HRS 15 MINS (MORE IF REDUCED SETTINGS). ADVISE THAT PA46-310 (350?) PLTS BE NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE FUEL STARVATION INDICATIONS ON COMBINATION OF LOW FUEL (UNDER 10 GALS) AND TURB AND OR STEEP TURNS.

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.

Piper PA46 pilot declared an emergency due to low fuel and diverted to land when the engine started quitting due to a lack of fuel.