Da-20 flight instructor and student reported engine failure due to fuel starvation during take-off r...

Narrative:

[In the evening]; my student went out to aircraft X to perform his preflight check. Attached to the clip board was a sticky note stating that the fuel level was at least 3/4 full. Per the checklist; he dipped the fuel tank and read approx 3/4 full. A few minutes later I joined him at the plane and dipped the tank myself. I also read approx 3/4 full of full. Both of us agreed that the fuel load was enough for a 1.5 hour flight. Before takeoff; I noticed a discrepancy between the fuel gauge and the level that my student and I believed was on board. It read slightly lower; than what we believed was on board; but not so much so to cause me concern due to the unreliable nature of the fuel gauge during previous flights. We departed without incident; and flew to ZZZ1 and practiced pattern procedures there. After approx .5 of flying; we departed ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 to continue pattern work. While departing ZZZ1; we looked at the fuel gauge and noticed it indicated lower than 1/4 full. At this point we discussed the possibility that the fuel level was low and what to do. We both confirmed with each other that the fuel level had been 3/4 full before the flight. We had originally planned to do multiple landings at ZZZ2 but decided to return to ZZZ after one; fearing a possible leak; but believing we still had at least 1/2 tank. We entered the pattern at ZZZ and performed another two landings; still believing that the fuel gauge was faulty. After completion of the second landing at ZZZ; the fuel gauge had dropped to zero and the engine stopped during takeoff roll. We stopped the aircraft on the runway without incident. After reporting our situation to ZZZ tower; we secured the aircraft and dipped the fuel tank once more to find it empty after 1.2 hours of flight time.either a mechanical defect caused fuel starvation or an error reading the fuel level by three separate people. In either situation; the fuel gauge was accurate. Having encountered previous instances with inaccurate fuel gauges; I did not trust the reading the gauge was giving me. I believed a visual reading was more accurate. In hindsight I should have aborted the flight and returned to ZZZ the moment I noticed the discrepancy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DA-20 Flight Instructor and student reported engine failure due to fuel starvation during take-off roll.

Narrative: [In the evening]; my student went out to Aircraft X to perform his preflight check. Attached to the clip board was a sticky note stating that the fuel level was at least 3/4 full. Per the checklist; he dipped the fuel tank and read approx 3/4 full. A few minutes later I joined him at the plane and dipped the tank myself. I also read approx 3/4 full of full. Both of us agreed that the fuel load was enough for a 1.5 hour flight. Before takeoff; I noticed a discrepancy between the fuel gauge and the level that my student and I believed was on board. It read slightly lower; than what we believed was on board; but not so much so to cause me concern due to the unreliable nature of the fuel gauge during previous flights. We departed without incident; and flew to ZZZ1 and practiced pattern procedures there. After approx .5 of flying; we departed ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 to continue pattern work. While departing ZZZ1; we looked at the fuel gauge and noticed it indicated lower than 1/4 full. At this point we discussed the possibility that the fuel level was low and what to do. We both confirmed with each other that the fuel level had been 3/4 full before the flight. We had originally planned to do multiple landings at ZZZ2 but decided to return to ZZZ after one; fearing a possible leak; but believing we still had at least 1/2 tank. We entered the pattern at ZZZ and performed another two landings; still believing that the fuel gauge was faulty. After completion of the second landing at ZZZ; the fuel gauge had dropped to zero and the engine stopped during takeoff roll. We stopped the aircraft on the runway without incident. After reporting our situation to ZZZ tower; we secured the aircraft and dipped the fuel tank once more to find it empty after 1.2 hours of flight time.Either a mechanical defect caused fuel starvation or an error reading the fuel level by three separate people. In either situation; the fuel gauge was accurate. Having encountered previous instances with inaccurate fuel gauges; I did not trust the reading the gauge was giving me. I believed a visual reading was more accurate. In hindsight I should have aborted the flight and returned to ZZZ the moment I noticed the discrepancy.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1633011
Time
Date	201904
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	DA20 Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Quantity-Pressure Indication
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Total 490 Flight Crew Type 400
Person 2
Function	Trainee Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 88 Flight Crew Type 88
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Da-20 flight instructor and student reported engine failure due to fuel starvation during take-off roll.