A LOW TIME PVT PLT CAUSED A PLT INDUCED FUEL STARVATION SIT WHILE PERFORMING A GAR.

Narrative

I EXECUTED A SHORT APCH TO RWY 24 FROM A R DOWNWIND. AFTER A MISSED APCH; I DID A GAR. AT 500 FT; MY ENG SPIT AND SPUTTERED AND RPM'S DROPPED TO 800 RPM. MY FIRST REACTION WAS OF TOTAL DISBELIEF. I FIRST PUT THE PLANE INTO A L XWIND; THEN RADIOED AN EMER TO THE ATC CTLR. LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD; I KNEW THERE WAS NO OPEN AREA TO LAND; SO I KNEW THAT MY ONLY CHANCE WAS TO SLOWLY TURN BACK L WITHOUT STALLING MY WING AND LAND SOMEWHERE ON THE ARPT GNDS. THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT ANY INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANY PROPERTY OR MY PLANE. I FIRST THANKED GOD; THEN RADIOED THE TWR THAT I WAS OK. THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS PLT ERROR. I HAD THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE R TANK. THOUGH THERE WERE 3 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE R TANK AND 9 GALLONS IN THE L TANK; MY STEEP 30 DEG BANK ON THE SHORT APCH CAUSED THE AVAILABLE FUEL IN THE R TANK TO TRAVEL TO THE WINGTIP CREATING AN AIR POCKET IN THE FUEL LINE; WHICH CAUSED THE ENG TO STALL OUT JUST BEFORE LNDG. AFTER Q HR; I HAD THE PLANE REFUELED; PUT THE SELECTOR SWITCH ON BOTH TANKS AND WENT BACK UP FLYING FOR ANOTHER 1/2 HR. IF I DIDN'T DO THIS AT THIS TIME; THEN I FEEL THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH AFRAID TO HAVE FLOWN AGAIN. AND AFTER TALKING WITH MY INSTRUCTOR AND OTHER PLTS; I HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE THE FUEL SELECTOR ON BOTH TANKS.