Robinson R22
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 48; Flight Crew Type 48
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Human Factors; Weather
I was on a cross country from ZZZ to ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 and back to ZZZ for my 100 NM cross country for Part 61 private pilot license. I did my cross country plan that morning and reviewed it with my instructor; NOTAMs; TFRs; and performance were all checked. The flight plan said that I would arrive back at ZZZ with at least 20 min of reserve fuel. I received my endorsement from my instructor and departed. Before leaving ZZZ I flew 2 traffic patterns; both had extended downwind and upwind legs. I departed the airspace and flew to ZZZ1; ZZZ2 and then headed back to ZZZ. On the way back to ZZZ I experienced more of a headwind that what was planned for; and began to worry about my fuel situation. I was approx. 4 NM north of ZZZ when the Low Fuel light flickered; not wanting to take any chances I entered a controlled; power on decent; approximately 5 seconds later the Low Fuel light came on and stayed on. I followed my Emergency Procedure training and made a radio call to ZZZ telling them that I had a Low Fuel light and was going to land immediately; I advised them where I was and when I was on the ground; telling them there were no injuries and no damage to property. I shut the aircraft down; called my instructor and he delivered fuel to me. I preflighted the aircraft then took off and completed the flight to ZZZ. In the future I will plan more conservatively for fuel burn and be more precise with time tracking while in flight. I will also always take fuel whenever it available; and refuel after flying patterns before leaving on an extended cross country flight; as you can not always plan on flying tight patterns around a controlled airport.
I had a student on a training flight to complete his 100 NM cross country for his Part 61 helicopter private pilot license. We had preflighted and reviewed his flight plan along with TFRs; NOTAMs; and performance. He had 28.0 gallons of fuel on board on departure and needed 21.1 gallons to complete the flight with more than 20 mins extra fuel upon landing. I gave him his endorsement for the route we had trained on and reviewed. He left with full fuel and left ZZZ to ZZZ1; then to ZZZ2; and then back to ZZZ. On the way back from ZZZ2 to ZZZ he had more of a headwind then expected and began to worry about fuel. He made it to ZZZ airspace when the low fuel light came on which indicated about 10 mins of fuel onboard. He did what he was taught and made a precautionary landing in an open field near a road away from people and property while informing ZZZ Tower of the situation. No harm came to the student; the public; property; or the aircraft. Fuel was delivered and he completed the 5 NM to ZZZ to complete the flight. In the future; as an instructor; I will make sure my students are watching their time in flight and fuel burn so they can land for fuel in ZZZ2. I will reinforce that it is ok to land for fuel if needed or call me if in doubt.
Student pilot flying R22 Helicopter reports an off airport landing due to low fuel.