A precautionary return land situation is set up as pilot notes one fuel gauge reading empty on a tan...

Attributes
ACN	150051
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ful
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ful
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	150051
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Before departing fullerton airport, I did a thorough preflight, including a visibility inspection to the fuel tanks. Both tanks were slightly above the tabs indicating 34 gallons of usable fuel. After departing, I contacted coast approach to receive flight following. About 2 mins later, I glanced at my fuel gauges, and noticed the left tank was on empty. I immediately switched to the right tank, and told coast I was returning to fullerton. I contacted the tower, and they told me to report downwind. They sequenced me and said I was #3 for landing. Because it is not unusual for fullerton to resequence aircraft on a busy weekend, I advised them of my situation, because I did not want them to tell me to fly an extended downwind. (Often the pattern goes 5 mi away from the approach end of the runway). Fullerton tower told me to turn base, and I landed west/O incident. After clearing the runway, they asked if I needed assistance. I told them that the engine was developing power, and that I suspected the problem was electrical. I taxied back to my parking space and immediately inspected the fuel tanks. Both tanks were still near the tabs indicating that indeed, it was a gauge problem. All cbs were also normal. My reason for filing this report is because I asked ATC for assistance. I did not declare an emergency, but I did not want to remain in the air any longer than necessary. I have read about instances where fuel drains failed, and fuel has leaked out in flight. I felt it was a good idea to get down quick, and try to stay as close to the airport as possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PRECAUTIONARY RETURN LAND SITUATION IS SET UP AS PLT NOTES ONE FUEL GAUGE READING EMPTY ON A TANK THAT HE HAD INSPECTED AS FULL PRIOR TO FLT AND THEN SUSPECTED A FUEL LEAK.

Narrative: BEFORE DEPARTING FULLERTON ARPT, I DID A THOROUGH PREFLT, INCLUDING A VIS INSPECTION TO THE FUEL TANKS. BOTH TANKS WERE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE TABS INDICATING 34 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. AFTER DEPARTING, I CONTACTED COAST APCH TO RECEIVE FLT FOLLOWING. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER, I GLANCED AT MY FUEL GAUGES, AND NOTICED THE L TANK WAS ON EMPTY. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TO THE R TANK, AND TOLD COAST I WAS RETURNING TO FULLERTON. I CONTACTED THE TWR, AND THEY TOLD ME TO RPT DOWNWIND. THEY SEQUENCED ME AND SAID I WAS #3 FOR LNDG. BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR FULLERTON TO RESEQUENCE ACFT ON A BUSY WEEKEND, I ADVISED THEM OF MY SITUATION, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THEM TO TELL ME TO FLY AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND. (OFTEN THE PATTERN GOES 5 MI AWAY FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY). FULLERTON TWR TOLD ME TO TURN BASE, AND I LANDED W/O INCIDENT. AFTER CLRING THE RWY, THEY ASKED IF I NEEDED ASSISTANCE. I TOLD THEM THAT THE ENG WAS DEVELOPING PWR, AND THAT I SUSPECTED THE PROB WAS ELECTRICAL. I TAXIED BACK TO MY PARKING SPACE AND IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS. BOTH TANKS WERE STILL NEAR THE TABS INDICATING THAT INDEED, IT WAS A GAUGE PROB. ALL CBS WERE ALSO NORMAL. MY REASON FOR FILING THIS RPT IS BECAUSE I ASKED ATC FOR ASSISTANCE. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO REMAIN IN THE AIR ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY. I HAVE READ ABOUT INSTANCES WHERE FUEL DRAINS FAILED, AND FUEL HAS LEAKED OUT IN FLT. I FELT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GET DOWN QUICK, AND TRY TO STAY AS CLOSE TO THE ARPT AS POSSIBLE.

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.

A precautionary return land situation is set up as pilot notes one fuel gauge reading empty on a tank that he had inspected as full prior to flight and then suspected a fuel leak.