The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found that 6% of accidents between 1991 and 2000 were caused by fuel exhaustion or starvation. The former is defined as no useable fuel remaining, the latter as an interruption of fuel supply to the engine even though there is adequate fuel on board. In that period, says the ATSB, 139 fuel-related accidents caused 49 fatalities.
Fuel starvation incidents have "remained relatively stable over the last 20 years", says the ATSB, but fuel exhaustion events have decreased 29.6%. The aviation categories in which both fuel exhaustion and starvation are most likely to occur, observes the bureau, are the "private/business and agricultural sectors". Pilots with fewer hours on type are more likely to be involved in fuel-related occurrences, and the ATSB associates this with the business/private aviation sector. Alternatively, it says, "fatigue and high operator workload" are more likely to contribute to fuel events in agricultural flying.
The bureau lists the most frequent factors in fuel accidents: pre-flight preparation, comprising incorrect assessment of fuel quantity and miscalculation of fuel required; events during flight, including inattention to fuel supply, and "continuing with flight regardless of the fuel problem"; and technical factors, including component failure and malfunctioning of the fuel system.
The bureau says that one in four of the pilots involved in a fuel-related accident "appears to have used inappropriate aircraft-handling techniques" after the engine power loss occurred, and says: "These findings emphasise the importance of sound procedures and training. An education programme focused on increasing levels of awareness of fuel-related issues within the aviation industry may be beneficial."
Source: Flight International
