Prevent Fuel Exhaustion, Starvation and Contamination

Fuel exhaustion, starvation and contamination cause 40% of engine failures; dip the tanks, drain and check fuel, and carry KDAC reserves (45 min day, 1 h 15 min night).

27 June 20241 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team

40% of engine failures are caused by fuel exhaustion, starvation or contamination.

Starvation – the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted even though there is adequate fuel on board. This is the most common of the three. Typical causes include a tank being inadvertently run dry, or mechanical issues.
Exhaustion – the aircraft is completely out of fuel. This can result from incorrectly dipping the fuel during the pre-flight, underestimating the fuel required for the flight, or a leak in the fuel system.
Contamination – a foreign substance such as water, dirt or fungi is in the fuel. Contaminants can hinder combustion and block fuel lines. The most common cause is an unsatisfactory pre-flight.

Before each flight, dip the aircraft's tanks and be confident you have sufficient fuel for the flight, accounting for unusable fuel and KDAC reserves.

The dipstick should only ever be in one of two places: in your hand or in the aircraft.

Drain fuel from each fuel drain and check it for contaminants, especially after refuelling.

KDAC fuel reserves

Day: 45 minutes
Night: 1 hour 15 minutes

For more on fuel management, read the CAA's Fuel management GAP booklet.

Prevent Fuel Exhaustion, Starvation and Contamination

KDAC fuel reserves

Further reading

More on Aircraft & Engine

Fuel Contamination: Drain, Settle, Inspect

Carb Icing Refresher for Cold, Damp Days

Check Oil Quality and Quantity Every Pre-Flight