A PA-28 PILOT WAS CONDUCTING STEEP TURNS ABOUT A POINT AND ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE AT LESS THAN 1000 FT. DURING THE TURNS; A G-INDUCTED FUEL STREAM CAME OFF OF THE WING CAUSING THE PILOT TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND LAND AT THE AIRPORT.

Narrative

AT APPROXIMATELY XA45; OVER THE TOWN; WHILE TURNING ABOUT A POINT; THE AIRPLANE DROPPED BELOW 1000 FT AGL. ATC TOWER FREQUENCY WAS ON AND THE TOWER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLANE WOULD BE CIRCLING AT THAT LOCATION ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF RUNWAY 20. THE TOWER THEN INFORMED THIS PILOT THAT THEY COULD NOT GRANT THIS OPERATION BECAUSE THE FLIGHT LEVEL WAS BELOW 1000 FT OVER A POPULATED AREA AND ADVISED THE PLANE GAIN ALTITUDE TO GREATER THAN 1000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY REGAINED AND RESUMED APPROPRIATE ALTITUDE OF GREATER THAN 1000 FT AGL. WHILE CLIMBING AND BANKING; THIS PILOT NOTICED FUEL FLOWING FROM BEHIND THE STARBOARD WING. WHEN I RESUMED FLYING AT A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL COURSE; THE FUEL FLOW SEEN FLOWING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE STOPPED. NEVERTHELESS; I PROCEEDED INTO CLASS D AREA AND WHEN THE 2 AIRPLANES IN THE PATTERN STOPPED STOMPING ON MY CONTACT TO THE TOWER; I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE TOWER AND REQUEST AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE TOWER IMMEDIATELY GRANTED CLEARANCE FOR LEFT DOWNWIND APPROACH AND LANDING ON RUNWAY 20. A FULL STOP LANDING AND TAXI TO PARKING OCCURRED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE TOWER ASKED IF EMERGENCY VEHICLES WERE REQUIRED AND I REPLIED NEGATIVE. THE TOWER/GROUND CONTROLLER REQUESTED I CALL THE TOWER FOR A FOLLOW-UP BRIEFING. THE TOWER CONTROLLER STATED THAT HER CONCERN WAS FLIGHT OVER A POPULATED AREA UNDER 1000 FT AGL; AND QUOTED THAT FAR. I RESPONDED THAT THIS WAS MY INTENT AND THANKED HER FOR HER ASSISTANCE WITH THE EMERGENCY LANDING. I APOLOGIZED FOR ENTERING THE CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT PRIOR REPORTING BUT I COULD NOT GET THROUGH IN TIME AS I WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE CLASS D AIRSPACE WHEN I NOTICED THE FUEL PROBLEM. THE CONTROLLER SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD AND CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE OTHER 2 RADIO CONTACTS BY THE OTHER 2 IN THE PATTERN OR ON THE GROUND; COMMUNICATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. SHE SAID THE EMERGENCY LANDING WAS NOT A CONCERN; RATHER THE MAINTAINING OF GREATER THAN 1000 FT MUST BE HELD. I AGREED. THE FUEL ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED WITH THE FLIGHT MECHANIC AT THE FBO AND DIAGNOSED AS A SIPHONING EFFECT DURING A BANK AND CLIMB ON A FULL TANK WITH NO MAINTENANCE ISSUES TO ADDRESS.