Definition
A flameout in a turbine engine caused by an excessively high fuel-to-air ratio, in which there is too much fuel relative to the available air to sustain combustion, causing the flame in the combustion chamber to extinguish.
Plain English
The engine quits because it is being fed too much fuel for the amount of air entering it. With that mixture, the fire inside the engine cannot keep burning and goes out.
Context Anchor
Encountered in turbine engine discussions, especially when learning why a jet engine can stop producing power even though fuel is still being supplied.
Derivation
‘Rich’ in engine terminology has long meant a fuel-heavy mixture (more fuel than the ideal ratio with air), and ‘flameout’ describes the flame in a turbine engine going out. Combined, the term names the specific case where an over-fueled mixture is the reason combustion stops.
Why Pilots Care
A rich flameout often follows abrupt throttle advancement, especially at high altitude. Knowing the cause helps pilots manage throttle inputs smoothly and recognise the conditions that can lead to engine failure in turbine aircraft.
Analogy
A campfire can go out if you dump too much liquid fuel on it and smother the air it needs. A rich flameout is similar: fuel is present, but the flame cannot keep burning because the balance is wrong.
Intuition Check
Do not assume more fuel always means more power. In this term, rich means too much fuel for the air available, and that can make the flame go out.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor explained that snapping the throttle forward at altitude can cause a rich flameout if the fuel control cannot match the airflow quickly enough.
Example Sentence 2
A malfunctioning fuel control unit produced a rich flameout at altitude, requiring an immediate relight attempt.