Fuel starvation explained

In an internal combustion engine, fuel starvation is the failure of the fuel system to supply sufficient fuel to allow the engine to run properly, for example due to blockage, vapor lock, contamination by water, malfunction of the fuel pump or incorrect operation, leading to loss of power or engine stoppage.[1] There is still fuel in the tank(s), but it is unable to get to the engine(s) in sufficient quantity. By contrast, fuel exhaustion (also called fuel depletion) is an occurrence in which the vehicle in question becomes completely devoid of usable fuel, with results similar to those of fuel starvation.[2]

All engine-powered modes of transport can be affected by fuel starvation, although the problem is most serious for aircraft in flight. Ships are affected to the extent that without propulsion they cannot maneuver to avoid collisions or beaching. On aircraft, fuel starvation is often the result of incorrect fuel management, for example by selecting to feed the engine from an empty tank while fuel is present in another one.[3]

When the fuel level is low, some aircraft are vulnerable to a specific type of fuel starvation known as unporting, which occurs when hard maneuvers, a steep climb, or a departure from coordinated flight causes the fuel to slosh away from the line leading to an engine. Some aircraft have special operating limitations on steep climbs with low fuel due to this concern.[4]

Fuel exhaustion and starvation incidents on aircraft

Many incidents have happened on aircraft where fuel exhaustion or starvation played a role. A partial list of these incidents follows:

1940s

1950s and 1960s

1970s and 1980s

1990s and 2000s

2010 and later

Abandoned in-flight aircraft

A number of aircraft have been abandoned by their crew (both intentionally and sometimes accidentally) when the aircraft has continued on its own until fuel exhaustion caused it to crash:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: fuel starvation Definition and Meaning. Dictionary Central. 6 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180302043459/http://www.dictionarycentral.com/definition/fuel-starvation.html. 2 March 2018. dead.
  2. Australian Aviation Accidents Involving Fuel Exhaustion and Starvation . Australian Transport Safety Bureau . December 2002 . 1 . 6 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181123173415/http://fuelforthought.org.nz/sites/default/files/Fuel_exhaustion_and_starvation%20BEA.pdf . 23 November 2018 . dead .
  3. Web site: Fuel Starvation. Fuel for Thought. Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. 6 June 2017. 20 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181220163146/http://fuelforthought.org.nz/fuel-starvation. dead.
  4. Web site: Training Tip: "Unported" Fuel . aopa.org . Namowitz . Dan . . 27 December 2013 . 3 July 2024.
  5. Web site: "Lady Be Good" . 2024-04-16 . National Museum of the United States Air Force™ . en-US.
  6. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540619-0 Aviation Safety Network HB-IRW page
  7. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540803-0 Aviation Safety Network F-BGNA page
  8. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630821-2 Aviation Safety Network CCCP-45021 page
  9. Web site: Royal Dutch Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) D-8045 . International F-104 Society . 2010-12-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100605081143/http://www.i-f-s.nl/cn/683D-8045.html . 5 June 2010 . dmy-all .
  10. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670604-0 Aviation Safety Network G-ALHG page
  11. Web site: Report on the NTSB investigation of the crash of N935F . https://web.archive.org/web/20070305174317/http://amelia.db.erau.edu/reports/ntsb/aar/AAR71-08.pdf . 5 March 2007 . 12 December 2007.
  12. News: NTSB Identification: IAD76AI021. National Transportation Safety Board. 12 January 2024.
  13. News: Hassell . Owen . 23 April 2023 . WATCH: Wrestling icon Ric Flair recounts Wilmington plane crash on Joe Rogan podcast . . Wilmington, North Carolina . 12 January 2024.
  14. News: . 25 February 2023 . PHOTOS: Ric Flair, Wilmington and the plane crash . . Wilmington, North Carolina . 12 January 2024.
  15. Web site: The Tragic Plane Crash that Happened on October 20, 1977 in Gillsburg Mississippi . TennesseeConcerts.com . November 25, 2017 . Pat Adams . Jaquelyn Cooper . October 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141225015928/http://tennesseeconcerts.com/planecrash . December 25, 2014 . live.
  16. Web site: Aircraft accident Convair CV-240 N55VM Gillsburg, MS . Aviation Safety Network . June 19, 1978 . October 26, 2019.
  17. News: Why did plane run out of fuel? . Spartanburg Herald-Journal . South Carolina . Gwinn . John . October 22, 1977 . B1.
  18. News: Rock band leader, five others killed in charter plane crash . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon . UPI . October 21, 1977 . 3A.
  19. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19781228-1 Aviation Safety Network N8082U page
  20. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830723-0 Aviation Safety Network C-GAUN page
  21. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850929-0 Aviation Safety Network N551CC page
  22. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19890903-0 Aviation Safety Network PP-VMK page
  23. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900125-0 Aviation Safety Network HK-2016 page
  24. Wilson, Stewart. Phantom, Hornet and Skyhawk in Australian Service. Weston Creek ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., 1993. .
  25. http://www.adf-serials.com/3a21.shtml ADF Serials F/A-18 page
  26. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19931115-1 Aviation Safety Network VT-EDV page
  27. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961123-0 Aviation Safety Network ET-AIZ page
  28. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20000712-0 Aviation Safety Network D-AHLB page
  29. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010824-1 Aviation Safety Network C-GITS page
  30. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20020830-1 Aviation Safety Network PT-MQH page
  31. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20040813-0 Aviation Safety Network N586P page
  32. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050806-0 Aviation Safety Network TS-LBB page
  33. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050814-0 Aviation Safety Network 5B-DBY page
  34. http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/S1-2008%20G-YMMM.pdf AAIB Bulletin S1/2008 SPECIAL
  35. News: Colombia plane crash: Jet ran out of fuel, pilot said . Jon . Ostrower . 30 November 2016 . CNN . 29 June 2018 .
  36. [LaMia Flight 2933#Flight and crash]
  37. Web site: Story of the discovery of the "Lady Be Good" and the recovery of the crew's remains . https://web.archive.org/web/20100225093545/http://www.qmfound.com/lady_be_good_b-24_bomber_recovery.htm . 25 February 2010 . 6 December 2007.
  38. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196178/lady-be-good.aspx "Lady Be Good"
  39. Web site: BAe Harrier attrition list . https://web.archive.org/web/20080125020450/http://www.harrierlist.co.uk/Demobbed/demobbedpt1.htm . 25 January 2008 . 6 December 2007.
  40. http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/project/YEAR_Pages/1987.htm List of live ejections from military aircraft for 1987
  41. http://mm.iit.uni-miskolc.hu/Data/Winx/stories/accid23.html "The strange accident of the MiG-23"