A C185 engine quit at 5;000 FT in a position allowing the pilot to glide to a nearby airport. During the descent he used the emergency fuel pump to sustain a rough running engine where after landing a fuel system malfunction was being investigated.

Narrative

While maneuvering at 5;000 FT MSL; I experienced total and abrupt loss of power. I immediately trimmed for best glide; verified the fuel selector was on; applied full mixture; propeller forward; full throttle and checked the magnetos. Next I looked for a place to land. I was over a congested area and was unsure if I would make it to my airport of intended landing. So I split the difference and left an option to land on a freeway. I attempted to recover the fuel tank by flying uncoordinated with the ball leaning to the side of the lower tank; in case the fuel flow had been interrupted. By the time I descended to 3;800 MSL; ATC had vectored another aircraft away from me and queried me about what I was doing since I had been cleared in the Bravo airspace to maintain my position at 5;000 FT. I informed the Controller at that time that I had to declare an emergency due to an engine out and that I was headed toward my destination. I informed him I could make the field; at which time he turned me over to the Tower. I called Tower and he cleared me to land straight in Runway 7. By now I was at 2;500 FT and attempted some more troubleshooting. I turned on the emergency boost pump and regained power; but it was not smooth. Having the field made with landing clearance; I kept the power at idle and had to slip it in on a steep approach to make a safe landing without incident. I taxied off the runway to parking and did some run-ups and the engine was still running poorly. After about 5 to 10 minutes it cleared and ran smoothly again. I shut down the engine; topped the tanks and determined that I should have had 8 gallons of usable fuel on board when I landed. The cause of fuel flow interruption is still in question and is being investigated.