C210 lost power momentarily when switch fuel tanks during descent for landing resulting in declaration of an emergency and divert for an immediate landing.

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Attributes
ACN	527744
Time
Date	200110
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : osi.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon tower : nuq.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	527744
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine power ind other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Upon descent from 6000 ft to san carlos, we switched tanks from a very low tank, approximately 10 gallons, to a tank that had approximately 30 gallons. At this time, the engine hesitated. We then turned on the boost pump and this eliminated all engine malfunctions. We had already deviated from our IFR clearance to head to the nearest airport. So I declared an emergency. I thought that since we were over the city and there was an airport, we should land. If we were in cruise, we would not have landed, but because of our location, we landed. We ran the engine several times inbound to moffett. We decided since we were now on final, we should land. Upon landing, we drained fuel from all sumps, did a long runup, and decided to proceed to san carlos. The engine hesitation was a result of switching tanks to slowly. While passing through the off position, I don't think the tank was dry due to the gauge indicating 8-10 gallons, and the fact that we could still drain fuel from it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C210 LOST PWR MOMENTARILY WHEN SWITCH FUEL TANKS DURING DSCNT FOR LNDG RESULTING IN DECLARATION OF AN EMER AND DIVERT FOR AN IMMEDIATE LNDG.

Narrative: UPON DSCNT FROM 6000 FT TO SAN CARLOS, WE SWITCHED TANKS FROM A VERY LOW TANK, APPROX 10 GALLONS, TO A TANK THAT HAD APPROX 30 GALLONS. AT THIS TIME, THE ENG HESITATED. WE THEN TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP AND THIS ELIMINATED ALL ENG MALFUNCTIONS. WE HAD ALREADY DEVIATED FROM OUR IFR CLRNC TO HEAD TO THE NEAREST ARPT. SO I DECLARED AN EMER. I THOUGHT THAT SINCE WE WERE OVER THE CITY AND THERE WAS AN ARPT, WE SHOULD LAND. IF WE WERE IN CRUISE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE LANDED, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION, WE LANDED. WE RAN THE ENG SEVERAL TIMES INBOUND TO MOFFETT. WE DECIDED SINCE WE WERE NOW ON FINAL, WE SHOULD LAND. UPON LNDG, WE DRAINED FUEL FROM ALL SUMPS, DID A LONG RUNUP, AND DECIDED TO PROCEED TO SAN CARLOS. THE ENG HESITATION WAS A RESULT OF SWITCHING TANKS TO SLOWLY. WHILE PASSING THROUGH THE OFF POS, I DON'T THINK THE TANK WAS DRY DUE TO THE GAUGE INDICATING 8-10 GALLONS, AND THE FACT THAT WE COULD STILL DRAIN FUEL FROM IT.

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.