Robinson R44
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 49; Flight Crew Total 609; Flight Crew Type 91
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
I was concluding a lesson; and decided to fly to the coast (5nm) when we departed I had 1/4 tank in the main. About 7 gallons. About 25 min of fuel. We flew [to] the coast and I monitored the fuel as we did; we flew for roughly 14 nm at 100kts and then turned around. When we were entering the airport airspace; the low fuel light began to flicker; I noticed we still had 1/8 of a tank. The entire time I was judging our fuel based on the gauge. I called tower and told them I was fuel critical and requesting a direct landing at our hangar. Tower told me to continue; and asked if I'd like to declare an emergency; I said no. About 4.5 nm from the airport the light was steadily on. I told my student to count down 5 min. A mistake I made; confusing the R22 low fuel light flight time remaining. The R44 is 10 minutes. Something I should have known by heart.Once my 5 min were up; we were 1 mile from the airport; I selected a landing spot and began my approach. I advised tower of my intentions. The entire time I had a road on my left side; should I lose my engine. Once landing was assured; I told tower. Tower said that emergency services were on their way. I called my boss; and told him about the situation.  I then told tower our specific location and told them we would turn off the master now. We called someone to bring us fuel and waited for the emergency services.Once we were fuel up; with 10 gallons; we advised tower and joined the downwind and landed at our hangar. Once back at the airport; I had the fuel truck top off both tanks to see how much I had left. It was 3.2 gallons. About 12 min at 15 gallons per hour. That was the amount left when I landed shy of the airport.  I had a meeting with my boss two days later and we discussed the situation.  We concluded that I made the right decision to land; but made a very bad decision to depart with low fuel.  In conclusion; I broke a regulation by departing with not enough fuel. And I trusted my gauge too much. I will never leave with 1/4 tank again and will always land with a minimum of 1/4 tank.
An R-44 Instructor with his student landed short of the destination airport after the LOW FUEL LIGHT illuminated steady. The flight left the airport with the fuel level at 1/4 tank for a 14 NM flight; but was forced to land short.