SMA PLT ON FERRY FLT MAKES A PRECAUTIONARY EMER LANDING ON A MIL BASE DUE TO A FUEL LEAK IN THE CABIN. MIL ISSUED CITATION FOR LANDING ON THEIR PROPERTY.

Narrative

ON OCT/SAT/01 AT XA00 LCL ONE HOUR INTO A XCOUNTRY FLT FROM ZZZ ARPT TO ZZZ1 ARPT. IN A SMA WITH NO ELECTRICAL SYS. A FUEL CROSSFEED VALVE; LOCATED INSIDE THE COCKPIT; FWD OF THE COPLT SEAT; STARTED DRIPPING. A DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND AT ZZZ2 ARPT; WHICH WAS CLOSER THAN ZZZ1 ARPT. AFTER CHANGING COURSE; THE VALVE; IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME; WENT FROM A DRIP TO MAJOR LEAK; DESPITE MY FRIEND'S EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE LEAK WITH PAPER TOWELS AND RAGS; HE WAS BEING DRENCHED WITH FUEL. WHILE THE DRIP CHANGED FROM A DRIP TO A LEAK I HAD CHANGED COURSE FOR ZZZ2 ARPT; TO ZZZ3 ARPT; TO ZZZ4 ARPT; TO ZZZ5 ARPT; AND THEN FINALLY TO ZZZ6 MIL AIRBASE. I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LAND AT ZZZ6; BUT I KNEW THAT THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WAS FULL; WITH SIX GALS OF FUEL; AND THAT IF WE WERE TO CATCH ON FIRE; THE AIRPLANE WOULD PROBABLY BURN PRETTY FAST. AFTER WE LANDED I WAS ISSUED A CITATION FROM THE MIL FOR LANDING ON THEIR PROPERTY. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE VALVE SEAL FAILED DUE TO DISUSE AND DRYROT OVER THE YEARS. BECAUSE I WAS BUSY FINDING PLACES TO LAND AND FLY THE AIRPLANE I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO RADIO ZZZ6 MIL BASE IN ORDER TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY SIT; AND THAT I NEEDED TO USE THEIR AUXILIARY RWY.