Two pilots in a PA28 reported they experienced a power loss when they ran a tank dry while engaged i...

Attributes
ACN	1425841
Time
Date	201702
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 192 Flight Crew Type 189
Person 2
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24 Flight Crew Total 1344 Flight Crew Type 87
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

While cruising we began to have an issue with the engine. I was flying right seat; with [a] safety pilot [in the] left seat. It started to sound like the engine was losing power. [The safety pilot] took over flight controls; we pitched for glide airspeed and turned back towards the runway. Following the emergency checklist; at about 1800ft MSL; we determined that we had run out of fuel in the left tank. After turning the fuel pump on; switching tanks; the engine ran at normal operation. We proceeded without incident. Upon evaluation of the flight; we determined that our personal conversation led to the distraction of using the checklist. Moving forward; all checklists will be completed and double checked to ensure this will not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Two pilots in a PA28 reported they experienced a power loss when they ran a tank dry while engaged in conversation.

Narrative: While cruising we began to have an issue with the engine. I was flying right seat; with [a] safety pilot [in the] left seat. It started to sound like the engine was losing power. [The safety pilot] took over flight controls; we pitched for glide airspeed and turned back towards the runway. Following the emergency checklist; at about 1800ft MSL; we determined that we had run out of fuel in the left tank. After turning the fuel pump on; switching tanks; the engine ran at normal operation. We proceeded without incident. Upon evaluation of the flight; we determined that our personal conversation led to the distraction of using the checklist. Moving forward; all checklists will be completed and double checked to ensure this will not happen again.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.