Small aircraft has engine failure due to water in fuel

Attributes
ACN	281300
Time
Date	199408
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bmg airport : i14
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 775 flight time type : 54
ASRS Report	281300
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Began the day with an am flight from smd to I14. Completed preflight of cherokee 6 (PA-32/300). Sumped all tanks. Plane belongs to a club and is generally used for flts of less than 3 hours. Wingtip tanks seldom used, but kept topped. Returned at XA00. Departed again at AB30. Preflted plane, but did not sump tank nor did I tank on fuel. Engine failed at AA15 just after I switched to port wingtip tank. I was talking to indianapolis approach. Declared an emergency situation. Switched to starboard wingtip. Got the engine restarted. However, it would only run between 1300-1700 RPM. It finally caught as I was switched to hulman approach (terre haute). Landed at destination and lineman said he saw water in tank when refueled. Sumped same tank thoroughly. Returned without incident. Prevention: 1) always sump tanks before takeoff. 2) rotate fuel usage so gas doesn't stay long in one tank. 3). Fuel up whenever possible. There were 4 people on board.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS ENG FAILURE DUE TO WATER IN FUEL

Narrative: BEGAN THE DAY WITH AN AM FLT FROM SMD TO I14. COMPLETED PREFLT OF CHEROKEE 6 (PA-32/300). SUMPED ALL TANKS. PLANE BELONGS TO A CLUB AND IS GENERALLY USED FOR FLTS OF LESS THAN 3 HRS. WINGTIP TANKS SELDOM USED, BUT KEPT TOPPED. RETURNED AT XA00. DEPARTED AGAIN AT AB30. PREFLTED PLANE, BUT DID NOT SUMP TANK NOR DID I TANK ON FUEL. ENG FAILED AT AA15 JUST AFTER I SWITCHED TO PORT WINGTIP TANK. I WAS TALKING TO INDIANAPOLIS APCH. DECLARED AN EMER SIT. SWITCHED TO STARBOARD WINGTIP. GOT THE ENG RESTARTED. HOWEVER, IT WOULD ONLY RUN BTWN 1300-1700 RPM. IT FINALLY CAUGHT AS I WAS SWITCHED TO HULMAN APCH (TERRE HAUTE). LANDED AT DEST AND LINEMAN SAID HE SAW WATER IN TANK WHEN REFUELED. SUMPED SAME TANK THOROUGHLY. RETURNED WITHOUT INCIDENT. PREVENTION: 1) ALWAYS SUMP TANKS BEFORE TKOF. 2) ROTATE FUEL USAGE SO GAS DOESN'T STAY LONG IN ONE TANK. 3). FUEL UP WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

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.