A PA23-260 in cruise at 2500 ft declared an emergency and diverted due to left engine loss of power. Switched tanks and restarted engine. Found left tank sump valve stuck open.

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Attributes
ACN	695043
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : cha.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	695043
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : left engine tach other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I checked my 4 fuel tanks visually and by gauge before leaving ZZZ1 for ZZZ2. The tip tanks were full. The main tanks were 1/2 - 3/4 full. After landing at zzz2 (about 60 mi from ZZZ1); I took off for the return trip. Shortly past ZZZ; my left main engine quit. I switched tanks and restarted the engine. Meanwhile I headed towards ZZZ for a possible emergency landing. I notified ZZZ approach of an emergency. After restarting the engine; I landed at ZZZ1. My mechanic replaced the sump valve on my left main tank. It apparently stuck open after I checked it at ZZZ2 and all the fuel drained out in the next 15 mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA23-260 IN CRUISE AT 2500 FT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO L ENG LOSS OF PWR. SWITCHED TANKS AND RESTARTED ENG. FOUND L TANK SUMP VALVE STUCK OPEN.

Narrative: I CHKED MY 4 FUEL TANKS VISUALLY AND BY GAUGE BEFORE LEAVING ZZZ1 FOR ZZZ2. THE TIP TANKS WERE FULL. THE MAIN TANKS WERE 1/2 - 3/4 FULL. AFTER LNDG AT zzz2 (ABOUT 60 MI FROM ZZZ1); I TOOK OFF FOR THE RETURN TRIP. SHORTLY PAST ZZZ; MY L MAIN ENG QUIT. I SWITCHED TANKS AND RESTARTED THE ENG. MEANWHILE I HEADED TOWARDS ZZZ FOR A POSSIBLE EMER LNDG. I NOTIFIED ZZZ APCH OF AN EMER. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENG; I LANDED AT ZZZ1. MY MECH REPLACED THE SUMP VALVE ON MY L MAIN TANK. IT APPARENTLY STUCK OPEN AFTER I CHKED IT AT ZZZ2 AND ALL THE FUEL DRAINED OUT IN THE NEXT 15 MINS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.