B55 pilot has engine failure due to fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	710459
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach ground : taxi
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 7 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 564
ASRS Report	710459
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

With about 30 NM left en route to ZZZ; the left engine lost power. After checking gauges and settings; I noticed fuel gauge on left main tank showing about 1/4 tank of fuel. Tried restart; no response. Switched to auxiliary tank and did respond; started to build up power when engine suddenly lost power again. I had contact with approach after first time engine lost power. With about 5 mins out of ZZZ; I decided to secure the left engine and fly in on the right only. At the time; I thought it may be a fuel restr of some sort after observing the gauge indicating fuel in the main tank. After landing at ZZZ; we noticed the left main fuel cap had blue streaks coming from around the cap. I did see this previously; but did not look like much on visual inspection; thought it was spillage from fueling earlier in the day. After further testing we found a constant leaking of fuel from the left main cap. Mechanic ordered new o-ring gaskets for all 4 caps. Did remove the center gasket on the left main; it had cracks. After reviewing my engine dropping off the second time when on the auxiliary tank; I should have kept the low boost switch on for a longer period to clear the line of any air. Also checking fuel indicator in tank for accuracy. The baron flies well on 1 engine and trims out for a normal landing procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B55 PLT HAS ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: WITH ABOUT 30 NM LEFT ENRTE TO ZZZ; THE L ENG LOST PWR. AFTER CHKING GAUGES AND SETTINGS; I NOTICED FUEL GAUGE ON L MAIN TANK SHOWING ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. TRIED RESTART; NO RESPONSE. SWITCHED TO AUX TANK AND DID RESPOND; STARTED TO BUILD UP PWR WHEN ENG SUDDENLY LOST PWR AGAIN. I HAD CONTACT WITH APCH AFTER FIRST TIME ENG LOST PWR. WITH ABOUT 5 MINS OUT OF ZZZ; I DECIDED TO SECURE THE L ENG AND FLY IN ON THE R ONLY. AT THE TIME; I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A FUEL RESTR OF SOME SORT AFTER OBSERVING THE GAUGE INDICATING FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK. AFTER LNDG AT ZZZ; WE NOTICED THE L MAIN FUEL CAP HAD BLUE STREAKS COMING FROM AROUND THE CAP. I DID SEE THIS PREVIOUSLY; BUT DID NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH ON VISUAL INSPECTION; THOUGHT IT WAS SPILLAGE FROM FUELING EARLIER IN THE DAY. AFTER FURTHER TESTING WE FOUND A CONSTANT LEAKING OF FUEL FROM THE L MAIN CAP. MECH ORDERED NEW O-RING GASKETS FOR ALL 4 CAPS. DID REMOVE THE CTR GASKET ON THE L MAIN; IT HAD CRACKS. AFTER REVIEWING MY ENG DROPPING OFF THE SECOND TIME WHEN ON THE AUX TANK; I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE LOW BOOST SWITCH ON FOR A LONGER PERIOD TO CLR THE LINE OF ANY AIR. ALSO CHKING FUEL INDICATOR IN TANK FOR ACCURACY. THE BARON FLIES WELL ON 1 ENG AND TRIMS OUT FOR A NORMAL LNDG PROC.

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.