SMA HAS FORCED LNDG WHILE SIMULATING EMER LNDGS.

Narrative

MY STUDENT WAS PRACTICING EMERS. I HAD SIMULATED AN ENG FAILURE AT 3000 FT. HE WENT THROUGH THE USUAL FLOW CHK WHICH INCLUDED SWITCHING TANKS. AT 500 FT I TOLD HIM TO LOOK AT THE POOR FIELD HE HAD PICKED (NO HOUSES OR ROADS NEARBY; XWIND; EXTREMELY SHORT; ETC) AT THIS TIME WE INITIATED A GAR AND THE ENG QUIT. WE LANDED SAFELY AND SUFFERED ONLY A BENT PROP. WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS MY STUDENT HAD SWITCHED FROM THE R TO THE L TANK; HOWEVER; THE SAFETY LOCK WAS BROKEN AND HE WENT SLIGHTLY PASSED TOWARDS OFF (ENOUGH TO STARVE THE ENG). I ESTIMATE WE HAD ABOUT 45 SECONDS BTWN THE ATTEMPTED GAR AND LNDG. NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RESTART FUEL FLOW. I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE OCCURRENCE AS I HAD WATCHED HIM SWITCH TANKS. HOWEVER; IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SELECTOR AS IT'S ON THE L SIDE NEAR THE PLT'S ANKLE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL WARN MY STUDENTS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL STARVATION IF THE SELECTOR IS NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE. WITH NEW STUDENTS I WILL ALSO HAVE THEM MOVE THEIR LEG SO I CAN SEE AND VERIFY THE POS OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. THE LOCK IS A 'STOP' TO PREVENT SELECTOR FROM MOVING TOO FAR. THE DETENT FOR PROPER POSITIONING IS NOT A REAL POSITIVE INDICATION. STUDENT DID NOT RECOGNIZE PASSING THE POS. THE 'STOP/LOCK' WAS REPAIRED PROMPTLY.