Pilot of a light twin diverted as a result of engine sputtering. Fuel contamination was found.

Attributes
ACN	311933
Time
Date	199507
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3k6
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 1020
ASRS Report	311933
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

3 mi from 3k6 at 2500 ft, I noticed both engines started to sputter and miss. I had the airport in sight and with the visual GS I had plenty of runway available. I landed the aircraft with 1 hour of fuel on board. After landing the aircraft, I had 15 gallons of fuel put in the 2 center inboard tanks. Assuming the aircraft had fuel contamination, I strained the fuel thoroughly. After a static runup, with 2 smooth running engines, I took off. After landing at aln I proceeded to drain the contaminated fuel out of the outboard tanks. After that time I performed a 1 hour test flight over aln, and the engines ran very well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A LIGHT TWIN DIVERTED AS A RESULT OF ENG SPUTTERING. FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND.

Narrative: 3 MI FROM 3K6 AT 2500 FT, I NOTICED BOTH ENGS STARTED TO SPUTTER AND MISS. I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WITH THE VISUAL GS I HAD PLENTY OF RWY AVAILABLE. I LANDED THE ACFT WITH 1 HR OF FUEL ON BOARD. AFTER LNDG THE ACFT, I HAD 15 GALLONS OF FUEL PUT IN THE 2 CTR INBOARD TANKS. ASSUMING THE ACFT HAD FUEL CONTAMINATION, I STRAINED THE FUEL THOROUGHLY. AFTER A STATIC RUNUP, WITH 2 SMOOTH RUNNING ENGS, I TOOK OFF. AFTER LNDG AT ALN I PROCEEDED TO DRAIN THE CONTAMINATED FUEL OUT OF THE OUTBOARD TANKS. AFTER THAT TIME I PERFORMED A 1 HR TEST FLT OVER ALN, AND THE ENGS RAN VERY WELL.

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.