EMER OFF ARPT LNDG PERFORMED AFTER SMA SUFFERS FUEL STARVATION AFTER TKOF.

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I HAD 3/4 OF A TANK FULL IN THE R TANK BUT TOOK OFF WITH THE L TANK WHICH WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAVE LOST AN ENG DUE TO ICING AND RECOVERED QUICKLY. (IN THAT CASE; I TOOK OFF WITH CARB HEAT BECAUSE I NOTED ICING AT RUNUP BUT TURNED IT OFF AFTER LIFTOFF AS I HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED.) THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ICING AT RUNUP. THE FIRST THOUGHT OF AN ENG OUT WAS 'ICING' AND I ACTED ACCORDINGLY. AT MY LOW ALT; MY ATTN WENT TO FINDING A FIELD AND GETTING THERE. DURING INSTRUCTION VERY LITTLE ATTN WAS GIVEN TO THE FUEL SWITCH AND I WAS NEVER REQUIRED TO SWITCH IT IN FLT. WHEN CHKING OUT A PLT WHO HAS ONLY FLOWN PLANES WITH 1 FUEL SOURCE (EVEN THE SMA IS NORMALLY ON 'BOTH'); ATTN SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THIS SWITCH; REQUIRING THE OP DURING FLT; ETC. I KNEW WELL ABOUT THE SWITCH BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE SIT IT DID NOT COME TO MIND. TO THIS DATE; I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I DIDN'T SWITCH OVER BEFORE TKOF. SINCE THE EVENT; I HAVE RECEIVED SUGGESTIONS FROM OTHER PLTS WHICH SHOULD HAVE COME FROM INSTRUCTORS.