Definition
A condition in which the engine stops receiving fuel even though usable fuel is still on board the airplane. The interruption is caused by something in the fuel delivery system — such as selecting an empty tank, a blocked line, a failed fuel pump, or a mismanaged fuel selector — rather than the airplane being out of fuel.
Plain English
The engine quits because fuel isn't reaching it, even though there is still fuel in the airplane somewhere. The fuel exists; it just isn't getting to the engine.
Context Anchor
You may encounter this term when learning fuel system operation, checking fuel selector positions, troubleshooting engine power loss, or reviewing accident causes.
Derivation
Starvation' comes from the Old English 'steorfan,' meaning to die or perish, later extended to mean being deprived of something needed to live. Applied to an engine, it means the engine is being deprived of the fuel it needs to keep running — even though fuel is available nearby.
Why Pilots Care
It can produce sudden engine stoppage or rough running that demands immediate action such as switching tanks or turning on the boost pump to restore power and avoid a forced landing.
Grounding Statement
An engine can quit from fuel starvation even when the airplane is not actually out of fuel.
Intuition Check
Do not assume fuel starvation means the aircraft has no fuel left. Fuel starvation means fuel is not reaching the engine; fuel exhaustion means the usable fuel is gone.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot forgot to switch from the empty left tank to the full right tank, and the engine quit from fuel starvation.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight, the pilot verified both tanks were selected to prevent fuel starvation on climbout.