PIPER PA28-180 PLT DIVERTED TO LAND FOR FUEL AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING CRUISE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. ENG RESTARTED AFTER SWITCHING TANKS.

Narrative

I WOKE UP THAT FRIDAY MORNING AND NOTICED IT WAS STILL SNOWING AND HAVING ICING. THE WX STATED IT'D CLR UP AFTER NOON. I DECIDED TO DEPART AT XA00 PM EASTERN TIME. I DID A FLT PLAN AND IT SAID I'D HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO GET TO MY DEST PLUS 1 HR LEFT OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. I DECIDED TO FILE IT AND IF I NEEDED TO LAND SOMEWHERE TO FUEL; I WOULD DO SO. I DEPARTED AND WAS TIMING EVERYTHING FOR THE FUEL; SWITCHING TANKS AS NEEDED. THE TEMP WAS -20 TO -30 DEGS C BTWN 8000 FT AND 9000 FT. I GET 45 NM OUT FROM ROCHESTER AND ACCORDING TO MY WATCH I STILL HAD 45 MINS REMAINING IN THE R TANK AND ABOUT 1 HR AND 45 MINS IN THE L TANK. I WAS JUST OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE ENG FAILED. I REACTED CALMLY AND EVERYTHING THAT CAME IN TRAINING WAS AUTOMATICALLY DONE. I IMMEDIATELY PITCHED FOR 80 MPH AND PUT THE FUEL PUMP ON THE SWITCHED TANKS. I ONLY DROPPED I BELIEVE 300-400 FT IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE ENG STARTED. I CALLED ROCHESTER APCH AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THEY HELPED ME OUT AND FOUND A NEARBY ARPT AND I DECIDED TO LAND THERE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE R TANK HAD WATER OR MAYBE SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE FUEL LINE GETTING CLOGGED. I THOUGHT THIS BECAUSE THE GAUGES WERE STILL READING 14 GALS ON THE R SIDE AND ABOUT 16 GALS ON THE L SIDE. I ALSO ACCORDING TO MY WATCH SHOULD'VE HAD MORE TIME IN THAT TANK. SO; I LANDED AT THE WINONA ARPT AND FUELED UP. THE R TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THE L TANK HAD MAYBE JUST 15 MINS REMAINING. I KNOW DURING THE FLT I HAD THE MIXTURE LEANED AS BEST AS I COULD TOO. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE TIMING AND EVERYTHING WASN'T LOOKING RIGHT. I DID A PREFLT CHK ON THE PLANE BEFORE TAKING OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE LOWEST FUEL TANK SUMP WAS LEAKING PRETTY FAST. IT WAS A CONSTANT DRIP. I FIGURED DURING MY FLT THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AND IT BEING SO COLD THAT IT MIGHT HAVE FROZEN THE GAUGES AS WELL. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG. BUT I GOT IT FUELED UP AND FLEW TO MY FINAL DEST WHERE I LANDED SAFELY. DURING THE ENTIRE TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED; I DID NOT FEEL SCARED AND I KNEW THAT ALL I HAD TO DO WAS FLY THE PLANE. I WASN'T NERVOUS; DIDN'T TENSE UP OR ANYTHING. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING BOTHERED ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL I GOT HOME AND HAD TIME TO SIT AND THINK WHAT COULD'VE REALLY HAPPENED. IT WAS PITCH BLACK OUT AND I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. HAVING SNOW ON THE GND DOESN'T HELP FOR THE LNDGS EITHER. BUT THAT IS HOW MY FLT WENT AND I AM GLAD TO BE SAFELY HOME.