PA32-260 pilot discovered fuel venting from left wing tank cap in ZMA class east airspace.

Attributes
ACN	491047
Time
Date	200010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vrb.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	491047
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport none taken : detected after the fact other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Had just cleared united states customs at fpr and got flight following with ZMA and leveled off at 3000 ft MSL. I looked over to the left wing and noted fuel spewing from the left main. I told the controller that I needed to get down due to problem. I turned toward vrb and made a precautionary landing on runway 22. I taxied to an area off of runway 22 and crash fire rescue equipment followed. In hindsight, 15 gallons of 100LL were added to the left main by the FBO. Being in a hurry to keep up with my schedule, I used the bathroom, paid the bill, and got in the aircraft with passenger. It appears that whomever fueled the aircraft improperly secured the cap. My error was reliance upon past experience with the FBO (good line service, no problems in 14 yrs). I should have verified the fuel cap being on and secure prior to departure. The left main was all the fuel on board the aircraft and it was quickly leaving. I have learned a very valuable lesson and will not be complacent about preflight ever again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32-260 PLT DISCOVERED FUEL VENTING FROM L WING TANK CAP IN ZMA CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: HAD JUST CLRED UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AT FPR AND GOT FLT FOLLOWING WITH ZMA AND LEVELED OFF AT 3000 FT MSL. I LOOKED OVER TO THE L WING AND NOTED FUEL SPEWING FROM THE L MAIN. I TOLD THE CTLR THAT I NEEDED TO GET DOWN DUE TO PROB. I TURNED TOWARD VRB AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG ON RWY 22. I TAXIED TO AN AREA OFF OF RWY 22 AND CFR FOLLOWED. IN HINDSIGHT, 15 GALLONS OF 100LL WERE ADDED TO THE L MAIN BY THE FBO. BEING IN A HURRY TO KEEP UP WITH MY SCHEDULE, I USED THE BATHROOM, PAID THE BILL, AND GOT IN THE ACFT WITH PAX. IT APPEARS THAT WHOMEVER FUELED THE ACFT IMPROPERLY SECURED THE CAP. MY ERROR WAS RELIANCE UPON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THE FBO (GOOD LINE SVC, NO PROBS IN 14 YRS). I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THE FUEL CAP BEING ON AND SECURE PRIOR TO DEP. THE L MAIN WAS ALL THE FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT AND IT WAS QUICKLY LEAVING. I HAVE LEARNED A VERY VALUABLE LESSON AND WILL NOT BE COMPLACENT ABOUT PREFLT EVER AGAIN.

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.