A BE55 pilot declared an emergency for a low fuel state when he was forced to fly a longer approach ...

Attributes
ACN	812721
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6200
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 525 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	812721
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After calculating fuel endurance and preflight; I departed en route to ZZZ; part 91; on an instrument flight plan. Upon departure; I planned to execute a visual approach into ZZZ. The WX was reporting 2900 ft overcast approximately 50 NM to the northeast. As we approached the area; the radar services were out; which prevented our ability to use the RNAV approach as the MVA is lower than the start of the approach. The only option was to select the much longer localizer/runway runway 12 approach which has a lengthy approach path. I had not planned to fly this approach and combined with running heat needed for a higher climb than expected; vectors; and a more lengthy approach I reached minimum fuel. During the return to the airport; I encountered unplanned WX containing ice; and was forced to declare an emergency. It would be prudent to redesign the approach into ZZZ to accommodate radar outages; or provide a reasonable transition ATC can use to get airplanes on the approach in times of outages.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE55 PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR A LOW FUEL STATE WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO FLY A LONGER APPROACH THAN PLANNED.

Narrative: AFTER CALCULATING FUEL ENDURANCE AND PREFLT; I DEPARTED ENRTE TO ZZZ; PART 91; ON AN INST FLT PLAN. UPON DEP; I PLANNED TO EXECUTE A VISUAL APCH INTO ZZZ. THE WX WAS RPTING 2900 FT OVCST APPROX 50 NM TO THE NE. AS WE APCHED THE AREA; THE RADAR SVCS WERE OUT; WHICH PREVENTED OUR ABILITY TO USE THE RNAV APCH AS THE MVA IS LOWER THAN THE START OF THE APCH. THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO SELECT THE MUCH LONGER LOC/RWY RWY 12 APCH WHICH HAS A LENGTHY APCH PATH. I HAD NOT PLANNED TO FLY THIS APCH AND COMBINED WITH RUNNING HEAT NEEDED FOR A HIGHER CLB THAN EXPECTED; VECTORS; AND A MORE LENGTHY APCH I REACHED MINIMUM FUEL. DURING THE RETURN TO THE ARPT; I ENCOUNTERED UNPLANNED WX CONTAINING ICE; AND WAS FORCED TO DECLARE AN EMER. IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO REDESIGN THE APCH INTO ZZZ TO ACCOMMODATE RADAR OUTAGES; OR PROVIDE A REASONABLE TRANSITION ATC CAN USE TO GET AIRPLANES ON THE APCH IN TIMES OF OUTAGES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

A BE55 pilot declared an emergency for a low fuel state when he was forced to fly a longer approach than planned.