Baron 55/Cochise
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300; Flight Crew Total 22000; Flight Crew Type 800
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
During practice approach; was receiving vectors on the downwind for ILS. Knowing FOB [fuel on board] to be limited (checked visually and measured with Shading prior to flight); selected AUX tanks in downwind cruise to optimize burn. After approximately 3 minutes; the right (#2) engine began losing power; with fuel flow fluctuations. Based on previous experience; I immediately selected main tank; expecting the engine to not lose power at all. However; the #2 did not regain power; and after about 20 seconds; I elected to land from the downwind; [after notifying ATC]. On base leg; was switched to Tower; and feathered the #2 engine. Turned final; completed an uneventful single engine landing and taxied clear of [the runway]. As I suspected; the AUX tank; upon fueling was empty. However; the main tank had approximately 17 gallons; with a total of 34 (1hour 30 min endurance) gallons on board. I am having my mechanic check the fuel valve.
The pilot of a BE-55 reported a loss of power to one engine after switching fuel tanks. After switching back to the main tank; engine did not recover; so it was feathered; followed by a successful landing.