A C210 pilot forgets to switch fuel tanks resulting in an engine failure until pilot switched tanks.

Attributes
ACN	600993
Time
Date	200311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dvt.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon tower : lax.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1340 flight time type : 1340
ASRS Report	600993
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on approach to scottsdale airport at approximately 12 mi out and at 4000 ft MSL (2500 ft AGL) and on an IFR flight plan, the engine quit. I immediately declared an emergency and requested landing at the airport at my 11 O'clock position. I established glide and turned to airport. I was given tower frequency and was cleared to land at my discretion, including txwys if needed. I attempted to restart engine after realizing I had run out of fuel on the right tank. I was able to get engine started by switching to left tank and pressing switch for 'high' fuel pump. I landed uneventfully. I gave information requested by individual representing the airport. The reason for engine out was my not switching tanks properly. I used 1 hour out of left tank, then switched to right tank. I failed to switch back to left tank at 2 hours. I waited 2 1/2 hours.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT FORGETS TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS RESULTING IN AN ENG FAILURE UNTIL PLT SWITCHED TANKS.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH TO SCOTTSDALE ARPT AT APPROX 12 MI OUT AND AT 4000 FT MSL (2500 FT AGL) AND ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE ENG QUIT. I IMMEDIATELY DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED LNDG AT THE ARPT AT MY 11 O'CLOCK POS. I ESTABLISHED GLIDE AND TURNED TO ARPT. I WAS GIVEN TWR FREQ AND WAS CLRED TO LAND AT MY DISCRETION, INCLUDING TXWYS IF NEEDED. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENG AFTER REALIZING I HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE R TANK. I WAS ABLE TO GET ENG STARTED BY SWITCHING TO L TANK AND PRESSING SWITCH FOR 'HIGH' FUEL PUMP. I LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. I GAVE INFO REQUESTED BY INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTING THE ARPT. THE REASON FOR ENG OUT WAS MY NOT SWITCHING TANKS PROPERLY. I USED 1 HR OUT OF L TANK, THEN SWITCHED TO R TANK. I FAILED TO SWITCH BACK TO L TANK AT 2 HRS. I WAITED 2 1/2 HRS.

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.