Incident Details
A pilot with over 3,900 total flight hours, including a half-hour checkout in the A-36 and 14 hours of cross-country flying in that specific aircraft, experienced an engine failure during flight. The pilot reported that fuel was kept evenly distributed by switching the fuel selector between tanks over the nearly three-hour flight. The pilot, who also served as a CFI, commented that when the engine quit, it sounded like fuel starvation.
Post-Crash Inspection
Examination of the undamaged fuel system and instrument panel revealed 15 gallons of fuel in the right tank, no fuel in the left tank, the fuel selector positioned to the right tank, and the auxiliary fuel boost pump in the off position. The pilot's handbook specifies that the auxiliary fuel boost pump should be turned on when engine power is lost during flight.
Pilot Background
The pilot accumulated 3,900 total flight hours, with only a half-hour checkout in the A-36 and 14 hours of cross-country flying in this aircraft. The flight duration was nearly three hours.