PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 178.7; Flight Crew Total 995.2; Flight Crew Type 24.7
Confusion; Distraction; Workload; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
After topping off all 4 tanks in the Cherokee Six I departed the airport with a private pilot that wanted to get checked out in the Cherokee Six. We did about 1 hour of maneuvers in the practice area; mostly on the left tip tank; then returned to the airport for touch and go's. During the Pre-Landing checklist the pilot switched tanks to the right tip tank. He had remembered that the POH recommended using the tip tanks first. The POH also recommends that fullest main or tip tank be selected for landing. The POH also recommends that the fullest main tank be used for takeoff.After climbing out from Runway 17L after the first touch and go; during a turn to left cross-wind the engine began to sputter. It never quit. I immediately took the controls; switched tanks to the right main; leveled the wings and looked for a place to land. The engine returned to normal operation in about 3 or 4 seconds. I called the Tower and informed them that we were having engine trouble and wanted to return to land on Runway 35R. We were cleared to land on 35R and did so without incident. Maintenance did not find any issues with the aircraft. We're not sure what the issue was.
A PA-32 engine faltered after the student pilot selected the opposite tip tank which apparently had sufficient fuel and being in the landing pattern; the instructor made a full stop landing.