Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 100
Other / Unknown; Communication Breakdown; Fatigue; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Human Factors
I requested 360 gallons of fuel and watched the meter reach 360. The agent paid for the fuel and took the receipt. I noted the fuel gauge was low but one of the needles was moving back and forth so I decide the start up and check again before takeoff. The aircraft is not usually filled with so much fuel. It was below freezing and it appeared the gauge might not be correct because I watched him put 360 gallons on the aircraft. I contacted Tower and asked if in Canada they use imperial gallons. He said possibly but there is not much of a difference between the two so I elected to takeoff. On climbout the fuel gauges stabilized at a much lower amount then would be if I got 360 gallons. I then asked Toronto Center if they use liters to fuel planes he said yes it is very likely but he would contact the FBO to find out. He passed me on to another center and then the message 'you were fueled with 360 liters not gallons' was relayed to me. This meant that I would land with just a couple hundred gallons for fuel so to be safe I decided to divert to get more fuel. I contacted the Center I was talking to and told them that I want to divert and asked for a suggestion of a location that has Customs. They said CMH is an option so I decide to divert there I asked ATC if they would contact Customs for me. They did and when I arrived at CMH there was an agent there and I got gas and proceeded to my destination. I was feeling sick; tired; I was flying all day; plane broke twice; I had to divert once because of maintenance already the same day. It was late; I have been to Canada once; I had a lot of paperwork to complete; I was by myself and it was late. I will correct future problems but catching the chain of events sooner.
A turboprop pilot requested 360 gallons of fuel departing Canada but was fueled with 360 liters instead. This error was confirmed when airborne and the reporter diverted for fuel. Illness; fatigue; and maintenance delays were cited as factors.