Narrative:

While executing missed approach engine failed due to fuel exhaustion on right tip tank of piper cherokee 6 (PA32-300). This aircraft has 4 separate tanks left tip, left main, right main, right tip. Discussion was made with student before flight about fuel management on this type. This was not adhered to. Such as 1/2 hour increments to balance fuel load. Approach was conducted on right tip which was about dry on final. Landing checklist was not performed -- 'fuel fullest tank, fuel pump on etc.' it took several seconds for restart to occur after switching tanks and fuel pump (auxiliary) on. Operators of the fuel injected version of cherokee 6 will be surprised at length of restart whereas carbureted versions usually restart instantaneously upon switching tanks. This problem will likely recur unless pilots of cherokee 6 adopt a very disciplined fuel management program. Suggested as follows: 1ST 1/2 hour left maintenance 2ND held hour right main. 3RD 1/2 hour left main 4TH half hour right main. 5TH 1/2 hour right tip 6TH half hour left tip 7TH 1/2 hour right tip 8TH half hour left tip 9TH 1/2 hour left main 10TH half hour right main. The above may seem work intensive but it is the only way the cherokee 6 will fly 'hands off' without turning substantially. Also as a habit the pilot should use one of the main tanks for landing (the fuller one) and always use the landing checklist. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated he was able to get the engine restarted. But, prior to doing so he had declared an emergency and was in the process of getting the aircraft to the airport. The engine took what seemed a long time to respond to the start procedures. This reporter is a high time active instructor with experience in a variety of GA single and twins. He teaches ground school regularly and sounds very conscientious in the disciplines of safe airmanship.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENG QUITS FROM FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: WHILE EXECUTING MISSED APCH ENG FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION ON R TIP TANK OF PIPER CHEROKEE 6 (PA32-300). THIS ACFT HAS 4 SEPARATE TANKS L TIP, L MAIN, R MAIN, R TIP. DISCUSSION WAS MADE WITH STUDENT BEFORE FLT ABOUT FUEL MGMNT ON THIS TYPE. THIS WAS NOT ADHERED TO. SUCH AS 1/2 HR INCREMENTS TO BAL FUEL LOAD. APCH WAS CONDUCTED ON R TIP WHICH WAS ABOUT DRY ON FINAL. LNDG CHKLIST WAS NOT PERFORMED -- 'FUEL FULLEST TANK, FUEL PUMP ON ETC.' IT TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS FOR RESTART TO OCCUR AFTER SWITCHING TANKS AND FUEL PUMP (AUX) ON. OPERATORS OF THE FUEL INJECTED VERSION OF CHEROKEE 6 WILL BE SURPRISED AT LENGTH OF RESTART WHEREAS CARBURETED VERSIONS USUALLY RESTART INSTANTANEOUSLY UPON SWITCHING TANKS. THIS PROB WILL LIKELY RECUR UNLESS PLTS OF CHEROKEE 6 ADOPT A VERY DISCIPLINED FUEL MGMNT PROGRAM. SUGGESTED AS FOLLOWS: 1ST 1/2 HR L MAINT 2ND HELD HR R MAIN. 3RD 1/2 HR L MAIN 4TH HALF HR R MAIN. 5TH 1/2 HR R TIP 6TH HALF HR L TIP 7TH 1/2 HR R TIP 8TH HALF HR L TIP 9TH 1/2 HR L MAIN 10TH HALF HR R MAIN. THE ABOVE MAY SEEM WORK INTENSIVE BUT IT IS THE ONLY WAY THE CHEROKEE 6 WILL FLY 'HANDS OFF' WITHOUT TURNING SUBSTANTIALLY. ALSO AS A HABIT THE PLT SHOULD USE ONE OF THE MAIN TANKS FOR LNDG (THE FULLER ONE) AND ALWAYS USE THE LNDG CHKLIST. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE ENG RESTARTED. BUT, PRIOR TO DOING SO HE HAD DECLARED AN EMER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE ACFT TO THE ARPT. THE ENG TOOK WHAT SEEMED A LONG TIME TO RESPOND TO THE START PROCS. THIS RPTR IS A HIGH TIME ACTIVE INSTRUCTOR WITH EXPERIENCE IN A VARIETY OF GA SINGLE AND TWINS. HE TEACHES GND SCHOOL REGULARLY AND SOUNDS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS IN THE DISCIPLINES OF SAFE AIRMANSHIP.

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.