PRIVATE PLT OF SMA ACFT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE UNEXPECTED FUEL LOSS.

Narrative

I WAS STARTING A XCOUNTRY FLT AT 6500 MSL FROM AUGUA DULCE (L70) THROUGH HIGH DESERT (L80) AIRPARK. THE START OF THE FLT THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OF WITH FUEL. APPROX (15 MINS OUT) OR 45 MINS I NOTICED A RAPID LOSS OF FUEL IN THE R WING TANK. WHEN THE FUEL INDICATOR WENT INTO THE RED; I SELECTED THE CLOSEST ARPT. THE LORAN SHOWED VICTORVILLE UPON SELECTING SAME; I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT GEORGE AIR FORCE BASE WAS ANSWERING MY CALL. I INFORMED THE CTL TWR THAT MY R TANK WAS IN THE RED AND THE L TANK WAS RAPIDLY DROPPING LEVEL. THE TWR INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DECLARE AN EMER TO USE THEIR RWYS; SO I DID THIS. I WAS CLRED TO LAND ON THE ACTIVE. ON THE GND I OBSERVED THE R TANK WAS LOW BUT I MISTRUSTED THE FUEL GAUGES AS THE L WAS NEAR FULL. WHILE FILLING OUT ALL THE FORMS; BOTH TANKS EQUALIZED. THIS GAVE ME A SAFE QUANTITY IN BOTH TANKS FOR TKOF AND LNDG AT HESPERIA (L26). I FOUND LATER THE R GAS CAP WAS ALLOWING FUEL TO BE SIPHONED OUT. O-RINGS WERE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. WHEN FILLING OUT PAPERWORK FOR GEORGE'S AIR FORCE BASE SECURITY; I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHOW PLTS LICENSE; THIS I LATER FOUND IN FLT BAGGAGE IN REAR OF PLANE. SECURITY CONTACTED THE RIVERSIDE FAA TO GET PERMISSION FOR MY RETURN FLT TO HOME BASE AGUA DULCE (L70). FAA INSPECTOR GAVE PERMISSION FOR MY RETURN IN ABSENCE OF HAVING MY PLTS LICENSE. CORRECTIVE ACTION: 1) WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED I SHOULD HAVE SELECTED THE L TANK IMMEDIATELY; THEN I COULD HAVE SELECTED ANOTHER ARPT; HESPERIA (L26). 2) 'CARRY PHOTO COPIES OF PLTS LICENSE AND MEDICAL SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE SEPARATED.'