Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 2800; Flight Crew Type 1500
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors
Had a small fuel imbalance. Decided to cross feed #1 engine from #2 tank. I recollect thinking I need to set a timer - but I forgot to. The #2 tank got depleted and #1 engine lost power. As soon as I realized that I had lost power; I realized what had happened. I switched both engines to tank #1; restored power; and regained lost altitude and resumed track. #1 engine took 15-30 seconds to restore power; though #2 engine regained power immediately. I had to restore fuel flow to #1 engine by using the electric boost pump.As I lost altitude earlier; and deviated from heading; ATC queried my deviation; and I told them I needed to descend and they could vector me as necessary. I did not want to lose airspeed by trying to climb on single engine. An air restart would be easier if the engine was wind milling.Error was in using cross feed in a situation where the cross feeding was not essential to safety of flight; then not setting a reminder to remove cross feed; and subsequently causing fuel starvation.
BE58 pilot reported mismanagement of fuel crossfeed resulted in a loss of power and an altitude excursion until power was restored.