PIPER 180 PLT HAS FUEL STARVATION DURING APCH TO FME.

Narrative

I WAS APCHING FORT MEADE; MD; RWY 28 IN MY PIPER 180 WHEN MY ENG LOST ALL PWR THOUGH THE PROP CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. I WAS ABOUT 3 MI FROM THE END OF THE RWY AND IN A DSCNT. I HAD JUST CANCELED MY IFR PLAN WITH BALTIMORE AND HAD SWITCHED TO THE FORT MEADE UNICOM. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED BACK TO BALTIMORE TO ADVISE MY SIT. AFTER I GAINED THE RWY; I LET BALTIMORE KNOW ALL WAS OK. HE ACKNOWLEDGED. LATER I CALLED FSS TO MAKE SURE BALTIMORE KNEW THE OUTCOME. THE EVIDENT REASON FOR THE ENG OUT WAS A LACK OF FUEL IN THE L TANK. I WAS COMPLETING MY LNDG CHK WHEN THE PROB OCCURRED; AND THERE WAS NO TIME TO FINISH. THE ENG FIRED UP AFTER A TOUCHDOWN BUMP IN THE FIELD BEFORE THE RWY WHICH PERMITTED A NORMAL LNDG. THE EVIDENT REASON FOR THE FUEL PROB WAS A RECENT OVERHAUL WHICH REDUCED THE TIME ON EACH TANK FROM 2 1/2 HRS TO 2. I WAS AWARE OF THIS AND WAS STILL USING MINERAL OIL. SINCE THE FLT TOOK 3 HRS FROM CONNECTICUT; THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN 1 HR LEFT IN THE R TANK. HAVING NOT COMPLETED MY LNDG CHK DUE TO THE PROB; I DID NOT KNOW THAT. THE SOLUTION IS TO START LNDG CHKS EARLIER; PROBABLY BEFORE DSCNT. OBVIOUSLY THIS MISTAKE WILL NOT BE REPEATED.