Cessna 310/T310C
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 14; Flight Crew Total 2000; Flight Crew Type 117
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Manuals; Procedure
On departure after reaching approximately 2;000 FT MSL; the aircraft experienced significant fuel flow fluctuation on the right engine. The fluctuation was not immediately resolved by switching to the auxiliary fuel tank; which had over 30 gallons of fuel; and engaging the electric boost pump. As the airport was less than 2 miles away; and as I had ample altitude; I felt the safest course of action was to return to the airport; and diagnose the problem on the ground. I notified ATC of an engine problem; and requested a return to land. To facilitate the single engine landing and reduce drag; I shut down the right engine and feathered the propeller. The landing was uneventful; and I taxied to the maintenance facility. It appears that the low fuel level in the right main tank at climb attitude permitted air to enter the fuel pump inlet resulting in cavitations of the pump. The fuel flow from the auxiliary tank did not have adequate time to purge the air and prime the fuel pump as I elected to shut the right engine down to facilitate an immediate landing. Prevention of a similar event would be accomplished by assuring an adequate fuel level in the main fuel tank. Although there was ample fuel in the auxiliary tank; it would have taken some period of time for the fuel from that tank to have primed the fuel pump and purged the air from the pump such that fuel could be delivered to the engine.
A pilot shut a C310 engine down after takeoff because of fluctuating fuel flow but after returning he discovered that the main tank fuel pump is uncovered at a high body angle and switching to the auxiliary tank would have alleviated the problem given time.