Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Recip Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Fatigue
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Human Factors
To avoid exceeding duty time limitations we were required to execute a quick turn and promptly depart. During our time between flights we placed a fuel order with Dispatch for 34 gallons per side. Shortly after ordering the fuel we requested that the passengers be sent to the aircraft. We then proceeded to taxi out to runway and depart. Upon reaching approximately 2400 feet we observed that we had not received our requested fuel order. Although we did have the required one-way fuel; we decided that due to the winds aloft we would be subject to fuel constraints later in the flight and then decided to return to [the departure airport]. To avoid recurrence of this event; we will perform very thorough flows and make sure that we verify that fuel has been received prior to boarding the aircraft. All flows will be conducted thoroughly and as a First Officer I will verify that all flows and checklists are completed.
My copilot and I departed after a quick turn due to a duty time issues so we would not exceed our duty time we had put an order in for 34 gallons a side and did not receive it. We then proceeded to taxi and take off with enough fuel for one way but with the prevailing headwinds it would not have been enough to make it to our alternate if needed so we both decided to return to [the departure airport].
The pilots of a small transport aircraft reported departing in a time pressure condition only to discover that the requested fuel load had not been added. This resulted in a return to the departure airport.