Narrative:

My piper PA28-180 had annual apr/mon/05. Plane was flown for test flight apr/fri/05 by myself (fuel tanks were not switched). Departed home airport (ZZZ1) at XA00 for IFR flight to ZZZ2. After 30 mins into flight; I switched fuel tanks (this was first time after annual). Fuel switch lever was very loose with no detent for locking into position. Fuel pressure gauge dropped to zero. I immediately switched lever back to original position. Fuel pressure dropped to zero. Electric fuel pump was on; but pumped only enough fuel for idle speed (1000 RPM). ATC was informed; they vectored me to ZZZ3 4.5 mi ahead. A no power landing was made clipping the tops of some trees and landing short of runway by 30 ft. Damaged light (12 inch tear in bottom of plane). I feel problem was caused by incorrect assembly of fuel selector switch; led to unintentional shutoff of fuel supply. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the airplane was test flown 1 day after being released from the annual inspection; but the fuel selector valve was not tested. The reporter; when asked if the valve had been removed; adjusted; or any work performed on the valve answered 'didn't know if any work was done on the valve.' damage to the airplane was minimal: skin damage; wheel fairing torn off; and engine mount support bent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28-180 AT 6000 FT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO LOSS OF PWR WHEN SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.

Narrative: MY PIPER PA28-180 HAD ANNUAL APR/MON/05. PLANE WAS FLOWN FOR TEST FLT APR/FRI/05 BY MYSELF (FUEL TANKS WERE NOT SWITCHED). DEPARTED HOME ARPT (ZZZ1) AT XA00 FOR IFR FLT TO ZZZ2. AFTER 30 MINS INTO FLT; I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS (THIS WAS FIRST TIME AFTER ANNUAL). FUEL SWITCH LEVER WAS VERY LOOSE WITH NO DETENT FOR LOCKING INTO POS. FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED LEVER BACK TO ORIGINAL POS. FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON; BUT PUMPED ONLY ENOUGH FUEL FOR IDLE SPD (1000 RPM). ATC WAS INFORMED; THEY VECTORED ME TO ZZZ3 4.5 MI AHEAD. A NO PWR LNDG WAS MADE CLIPPING THE TOPS OF SOME TREES AND LNDG SHORT OF RWY BY 30 FT. DAMAGED LIGHT (12 INCH TEAR IN BOTTOM OF PLANE). I FEEL PROB WAS CAUSED BY INCORRECT ASSEMBLY OF FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH; LED TO UNINTENTIONAL SHUTOFF OF FUEL SUPPLY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE AIRPLANE WAS TEST FLOWN 1 DAY AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE ANNUAL INSPECTION; BUT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS NOT TESTED. THE RPTR; WHEN ASKED IF THE VALVE HAD BEEN REMOVED; ADJUSTED; OR ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE VALVE ANSWERED 'DIDN'T KNOW IF ANY WORK WAS DONE ON THE VALVE.' DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS MINIMAL: SKIN DAMAGE; WHEEL FAIRING TORN OFF; AND ENG MOUNT SUPPORT BENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.