Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 113; Flight Crew Total 3291; Flight Crew Type 267
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Shortly after reaching cruise altitude I noticed an unusually low fuel level on the fuel gauge for the right outboard tank. Later; 22 NM northwest of my destination; the right outboard gauge read 'E.' Five minutes later the right engine quit momentarily as I was in my descent towards the airport at 5;000 FT MSL. I was expecting it; so I turned on the auxiliary fuel pumps and switched to the inboard tanks and the right engine restarted within a few seconds. I continued the approach and landed.After landing the fuel gauges read: Main tanks Left 3/4 - Right 1/2; Outboard Left 1/2 - Right 'E.' According to the run sheet; based on block time I should have 548 LBS of gas. According to the calculations dividing the tank capacity by the indications on the gauges I had a total of 540 LBS indicated. I had the right amount of fuel on board; so no fuel leak; but both engines were obviously feeding from the right side.It all made sense thinking back to the morning preflight when I tested the fuel pumps and any pump on either side showed fuel pressure on both sides of the fuel gauge. At the time of preflight I consulted the lead mechanic who said; 'I've seen that before.' I insisted 3 times and got the same answer.It was suggested at the time that this was a gauge problem and not a system malfunction and that it was 'OK.' I know I have seen this same situation before during preflight; but I'm not sure if it was on this same aircraft. Based on the input from the lead mechanic I understood there was no malfunction at the time of preflight and I only became aware of the problem; on the subsequent flight.
A PA31-350 pilot suffered the temporary loss of the right engine when both engines fed from the same right outboard tank. He switched to the inboard main tanks and completed the flight. He had noted that any boost pump would indicate pressure on both engine fuel pressure gauges prior to flight; but had been told by Maintenance only that 'he had seen it before.' No write up or maintenance action was done prior to the flight that occasioned the report.