Takeoff Starvation

When considering various portions of routine flight operations, it’s safe to say that landings comprise a majority of the time spent in training and practice. But takeoffs also pose risks; perhaps most important among them is that the airplane isn’t ready to fly. The reasons could involve something simple like a pitch trim setting or a door that isn’t properly latched. Ensuring these kinds of problems are resolved before adding takeoff power is one reason before-takeoff checklists were invented.

Key Takeaways:

• Switching fuel tanks immediately before takeoff poses a significant risk of inadvertently selecting an empty or low-fuel tank, which can lead to engine failure shortly after liftoff.
• An experienced pilot was fatally injured after his Aerostar experienced a left engine power loss due to fuel starvation during initial climb, resulting in a loss of directional control.
• The investigation suggested the left engine was likely in a crossfeed configuration, drawing fuel from a nearly empty right wing tank, despite pre-takeoff checklists requiring selectors to be in the "on" position.
• Once engines are running and confirmed ready for takeoff, it is crucial to avoid last-minute fuel selector changes until the aircraft is safely airborne.

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