ENG STOPPAGE AND FLT CONTINUATION AFTER RESTART IN A HOMEBUILT SMA.

Narrative

SITUATION --HOMEBUILT. (I DIDN'T BUILD IT!) L TANK ALMOST FULL 13 GALLONS; R TANK 3 GALLONS; IN PREPARATION FOR UPCOMING REMOVAL TO FIX MINOR LEAKS. AT START-UP; ELECTRIC PUMP MAYBE TOOK A BIT LONG TO PRESSURIZE SYS. ATTRIBUTED THAT TO 3 WKS SINCE LAST FLT. SLIGHT SMELL OF GAS IN COCKPIT IN CLBOUT. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE R TANK. 15 MIN AFTER ENG START; ENG QUIT ABRUPTLY. RAPIDLY PERFORMED ENG INFLT FAILURE ACTIONS AND GOT RESTART. LESSON: DID ROUTINE SO QUICKLY (AT 1100 AGL) THAT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MADE THE ENG RUN AGAIN. WAS ALREADY ON B FREQ: ASKED FOR DIRECT TO SJC 3000 FT (SJC IS HOME BASE). CIRCLED OVER SKY SAILING TO 3000; THEN DIRECT SJC AT NORMAL CRUISE. MAINTAINED 3000 TILL ARPT BOUNDARY. LNDG UNEVENTFUL. TAXIED TO HANGAR; L ENG RUNNING FOR DEBUGGING. ENG QUIT AFTER 30 SECONDS. WAS OUT OF GAS IN L TANK: CONSUMED 10 PLUS GALLONS IN LAST 10 MINS OF FLT. FOUND FUEL LINE HAD BEEN FLARED IMPROPERLY; BENT AFTER INSTALLATION AT ONE FLARE FITTING; ATTACHED AT ONE END TO GASCOLATOR ON FLEXIBLE MOUNT. LINE FAILED AT FIREWALL FLARE FITTING; AT THE FLARE ITSELF. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP SQUIRTED ENOUGH FUEL ACROSS BREAK FOR THE ENG PUMP TO PICK UP ENOUGH FUEL TO RUN. COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN AN INFLT FIRE. SYMPTOMS WERE SAME AS ENG DRIVEN PUMP FAILURE. GOOD DECISIONS: GO HOME IMMEDIATELY. LOTS OF ALT. COVEY URGENCY. QUESTIONABLE: LEAVE LNDG SITE IMMEDIATELY BELOW -- BUT CONDITION OF SITE UNKNOWN. SUMMARY: CONDITION ONLY DETECTABLE BY DISASSEMBLY; NOT BY INSPECTION. BE REAL CAREFUL WITH A USED HOMEBUILT!