PLT OF SMA ACFT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF PWR BRIEFLY DUE TO FUEL MISMGMNT DURING APCH TO LNDG.

Narrative

LISTENED TO ATIS (TPA). CONTACTED APCH FOR LNDG. DSNDED TO 2100 FT MSL AS INSTRUCTED; 220 DEG HDG FOR RWY 27; ARPT IN SIGHT. FUEL SELECTOR ON L TANK: ENG LOST PWR. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALT. ENRICHED MIXTURE; SEARCHED FOR LNDG SITE. ANNOUNCED PROBLEM TO APCH WHO IMMEDIATELY PUT OTHER ACFT ON STAND BY GIVING FULL ATTN TO MY SITUATION. REQUESTED LOCATION OF NEAREST ARPT (WAS 4 MI NW) TURNED R. SWITCHED TO 'BOTH' ON FUEL SELECTOR. HELD EMER FUEL PUMP SWITCH UP TO 'ON.' ADVISED CTLR LNDG SITE BELOW. ENG SPUTTERED THEN RESUMED FULL PWR. LEVELED AT 1300 FT 330 DEGS. ADVISED CTLR. DISCUSSED INTENTIONS WITH ATC. ELECTED TO PROCEED TO TPA; RWY 27. LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT (10 GAL REMAINED IN R TANK). FACTORS: FLYING L WING HVY DUE TO REAR SEAT PAX ON L SIDE AND PLT HEAVIER THAN R SEAT PAX. HAD SWITCHED ENRTE TO L TANK TO OFFSET WT DIFFERENCE; EASE LEVEL WINGS. NEGLECTED TO MONITOR FUEL; L TANK; PARTIALLY DUE TO ATTN TO TPA LNDG ROUTINE REQUIREMENTS AND TPA UNFAMILIARITY. HAD NOT YET STARTED LNDG CHKLIST. FLT HAD BEEN FROM OCEAN ISLE; NC; 2 STOPS. PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE: ATTN TO FUEL MGMNT; PERFORMING LNDG CHKLIST ON DSCNT TO APCH ALT. ATTN TO LOADING LATERAL BAL.