Small aircraft X engine quit on missed approach because pilot failed to switch fuel tanks.

Attributes
ACN	284381
Time
Date	199410
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : acy
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : acy
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	284381
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft X tracked localizer inbound, bad radio, so handheld was used in cockpit. Aircraft tracked left of course and tower gave missed approach instructions. On missed approach, pilot reported engine out. During his climb out. Emergency equipment alerted. Aircraft soon regained power and was able to proceed visually. Pilot reported he never switched fuel tanks. He forgot, cause he was too busy trying to fly the localizer and talk on the handheld.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X ENG QUIT ON MISSED APCH BECAUSE PLT FAILED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS.

Narrative: ACFT X TRACKED LOC INBOUND, BAD RADIO, SO HANDHELD WAS USED IN COCKPIT. ACFT TRACKED L OF COURSE AND TWR GAVE MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS. ON MISSED APCH, PLT RPTED ENG OUT. DURING HIS CLBOUT. EMER EQUIP ALERTED. ACFT SOON REGAINED PWR AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED VISUALLY. PLT RPTED HE NEVER SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. HE FORGOT, CAUSE HE WAS TOO BUSY TRYING TO FLY THE LOC AND TALK ON THE HANDHELD.

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.