The Rules and Fuel

J. Mac McClellan

Monday, April 01, 2002 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Fuel exhaustion is a leading cause of power loss in general aviation, often due to inadequate planning rather than mechanical issues.
Existing FAA fuel reserve regulations (FAR 91.151 and 91.167) are ambiguous and contradictory, making them ineffective in preventing fuel exhaustion accidents.
Pilots should prioritize common-sense fuel planning over strict rule interpretation, maintaining conservative reserves in gallons, trusting low fuel gauge readings, and strategically refueling mid-flight to avoid running out near the destination.

See a mistake? Contact us.

What is it with pilots and fuel?

The most obvious requirement for continued powered flight-fuel in the tanks-seems to confound pilots more than P-factor. It’s impossible to know for sure how many pilots run out of fuel each year, because many power-loss events do not result in an accident if there is no serious personal injury or substantial damage during the forced landing. But it is safe to say that fuel exhaustion is a leading, if not the leading, cause of power loss in general aviation flying.