A C421 pilot had low fuel indications when the auxiliary fuel xfer pumps failed.

Attributes
ACN	632836
Time
Date	200410
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	632836
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : low fuel qty light
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A low fuel light came on 60 NM from ZZZ1. I called ATC and asked for the nearest airport and permission to land. They advised ZZZ2 at 7 mi, 3500 ft paved runway. I flew, descended, and landed without incident. I found out my xfer pumps did not xfer fuel from my auxiliary tanks. I have not used auxiliary tanks in 2 yrs. When I turned them on, the annunciator panel did not light up. I thought it should, but then I thought it must light up upon xfer completion. I was wrong.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C421 PLT HAD LOW FUEL INDICATIONS WHEN THE AUX FUEL XFER PUMPS FAILED.

Narrative: A LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON 60 NM FROM ZZZ1. I CALLED ATC AND ASKED FOR THE NEAREST ARPT AND PERMISSION TO LAND. THEY ADVISED ZZZ2 AT 7 MI, 3500 FT PAVED RWY. I FLEW, DSNDED, AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I FOUND OUT MY XFER PUMPS DID NOT XFER FUEL FROM MY AUX TANKS. I HAVE NOT USED AUX TANKS IN 2 YRS. WHEN I TURNED THEM ON, THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL DID NOT LIGHT UP. I THOUGHT IT SHOULD, BUT THEN I THOUGHT IT MUST LIGHT UP UPON XFER COMPLETION. I WAS WRONG.

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.