A cirrus SR22 engine began running rough during a descent; so after completing the engine partial po...

Narrative:

While repositioning a cirrus and in descent to 11;500 ft; my engine began running rough and losing power at brief intervals. Working through the engine partial power loss checklist restored engine power. Without confidence that the engine would continue to run and with fuel gauges that were indicating erratically; I made an emergency landing at the nearest airport; an auxiliary military airfield a few miles ahead. After a short approach to landing; I secured the engine and systems. Airfield personnel aided me in clearing the aircraft from the runway to a ramp; where I was able to visually inspect it. Though approximately 55 gallons were indicated available prior to departure and over 20 gallons were now being indicated on the ramp; I suspected this to not be accurate due to the nature of the engine failure and my inability to visually confirm due to the design of the fuel tank. After fueling the aircraft to ensure a known quantity was present; I restarted the engine and completed a thorough run-up to test the fuel and induction systems. This was accomplished successfully; with normal engine function and power available. I determined that the fuel totalizer function of the engine monitoring system would provide a more accurate method of tracking the quantity and consumption then the quantity gauges and was able to depart the airfield.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Cirrus SR22 engine began running rough during a descent; so after completing the Engine Partial Power Loss checklist the pilot diverted to a nearby airport where he discovered the fuel system was inaccurate.

Narrative: While repositioning a Cirrus and in descent to 11;500 FT; my engine began running rough and losing power at brief intervals. Working through the Engine Partial Power Loss checklist restored engine power. Without confidence that the engine would continue to run and with fuel gauges that were indicating erratically; I made an emergency landing at the nearest airport; an auxiliary military airfield a few miles ahead. After a short approach to landing; I secured the engine and systems. Airfield personnel aided me in clearing the aircraft from the runway to a ramp; where I was able to visually inspect it. Though approximately 55 gallons were indicated available prior to departure and over 20 gallons were now being indicated on the ramp; I suspected this to not be accurate due to the nature of the engine failure and my inability to visually confirm due to the design of the fuel tank. After fueling the aircraft to ensure a known quantity was present; I restarted the engine and completed a thorough run-up to test the fuel and induction systems. This was accomplished successfully; with normal engine function and power available. I determined that the fuel totalizer function of the engine monitoring system would provide a more accurate method of tracking the quantity and consumption then the quantity gauges and was able to depart the airfield.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	979975
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	SR22
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 36 Flight Crew Total 866 Flight Crew Type 219
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A cirrus SR22 engine began running rough during a descent; so after completing the engine partial power loss checklist the pilot diverted to a nearby airport where he discovered the fuel system was inaccurate.