Accurate fuel flow

[Jim Rainer]

WOW! You were 10 minutes from a deadstick landing! But here's a few thoughts.

1. Your fuel gauges are illegal. They must read empty when your tanks are empty - beyond that you can't trust them even though they are legal. I ignore mine unless they hit bottom and won't wiggle when I step on a rudder pedal.

2. Not every lineman knows how to fill your tanks. Assuming you are on level ground, once they are full, rock the wings then refill. You may get another 5 gallons a side (would not have helped you much.)

3. I have a normal 1976 337G like you and I use 20 gph (using the hour meter hooked to the battery.) In 9 years and almost 700 hours this has been accurate within 5 gallons.) Your plane should go 7.5 hours to dry tanks at 60% or so. After 5 to 5.5 hrs, stop for fuel. If you make several T.O.s ,climbs and landings in the 5 hrs, use a higher number - 23 gph. In short, we used the clock to compute fuel used/remaining.