Checklist: Fuel—good to go? A ROUTINE INSTRUMENT TRAINING flight in a Piper PA-28 turned into an “off airport” landing after the engine lost power. Luckily no one was hurt and there was no property or aircraft damage. Had the instructor visually inspected the fuel tanks before the flight it might not have come to this NASA Aviation Safety Report: “…I had the student change fuel tanks…a few moments later the engine began to shake and vibrate; then it momentarily ran smooth. I instructed my student to switch tanks. I verified mixture and throttle were full forward and turned on the fuel pump. The engine began to shake again and lost considerable power…I declared an emergency…After landing I noticed the left fuel indicator read empty. I looked … THE STUDENT HAD ASKED ANOTHER CFI ABOUT THE FUEL LEVEL into the tank and saw only a little bit of fuel. I found out the student had asked another CFI about the fuel level in the left tank. The instructor informed the student to either get gas or only use the right tank. The student said he understood and would do that. When I asked the student about the fuel situation before the flight, his only response was that fuel was “good to go.” Check out ASI's Fuel Management Safety Spotlight online (www.airsafetyinstitute.org/fuelspotlight) for an interactive fuel accident map and fuel safety publications. —Machteld Smith >> > If you are receiving CFI to CFI in print why not join the 55,000 CFIs who receive the digital version instead? You’ll be able to tap in to the Air Safety Institute’s renowned education and safety resources with instant access to courses, quizzes, and safety publications. And with the click of a button you’ll be sharing pertinent stories, videos, and course links with your colleagues and students. No matter where you are, accessing the interactive digital newsletter is easy. And, you’re helping the environment by going paperless. Make sure to opt in for the electronic version now. Go online (www. airsafetyinstitute.org/CFInews) to take full advantage of this new communication channel. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GO ONLINE (WWW.AIRSAFETYINSTITUTE. ORG/CFINEWS) www.airsafetyinstitute.org | 5http://www.aopa.org/asf/hotspot/fuel.html http://www.aopa.org/asf/hotspot/fuel.html http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/fuelspotlight http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/fuelspotlight http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/firc http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/cfitocfi.html http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/cfitocfi.html http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/cfitocfi.html http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/CFInews http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/CFInews http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/firc http://WWW.AIRSAFETYINSTITUTE.ORG/CFINEWS http://WWW.AIRSAFETYINSTITUTE.ORG/CFINEWS http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org