EA50 pilot declares min fuel after WX diversion and approach delays.

Attributes
ACN	796051
Time
Date	200807
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Eclipse 500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	796051
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

The WX at ZZZ deteriorated to the point where a deviation was necessary. Since an airport with customs was required; I chose ZZZ1. I had plenty of fuel to reach ZZZ1; but because I could not climb very high due to ATC; my fuel burn was higher than expected. I mentioned to ZZZ1 approach that fuel was a concern and I'd like to land as soon as possible. He told me I was 12TH in line for final. I said that will not work for me. He said 'are you declaring an emergency?' I said 'no; but if you fly me 1/2 way across the lake; I'll have one.' he opened a position about 4 mi out on final; and at that point I decided it was time to get the airplane on the ground. So I declared minimum fuel and told him I wanted to land now; I believe I complied with his request to say the word 'emergency;' to expedite. He turned me inbound and over to tower. Tower said; 'cleared to land and the trucks are rolling.' I suggested that rolling the trucks was ridiculous; as there was no emergency. He said that just what we do when an emergency is declared. I still think it was a ridiculous waste of manpower; as there was no issue. An uneventful landing and taxi to customs ensued. I still had 250 pounds of fuel on board; but we eclipse pilots like to be on the ground with 300 pounds; for more safety; even though 250 pounds is adequate. I made the proper call; given had I flown another 10 mi; I would have been in dire consequences had I needed to go around from my original approach to landing; not to mention one 10-15 mins later. The tower contends; per FAA; after I spoke with FAA; I should have declared minimum fuel much sooner. I say; given middle of the day; VFR; how would one have guessed there would be a 25 mi final? Next time; I would have landed at another airport; fueled the airplane; and dealt with whatever issues customs would have had with that decision. In my view; far fewer headaches; as ZZZ1 made a mountain out of a molehill. The ZZZ1 FSDO was very helpful and concurred with my decision making. They did suggest; however; an earlier declaration of minimum fuel would have been more appropriate to give ATC more heads up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EA50 PILOT DECLARES MIN FUEL AFTER WX DIVERSION AND APPROACH DELAYS.

Narrative: THE WX AT ZZZ DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE A DEV WAS NECESSARY. SINCE AN ARPT WITH CUSTOMS WAS REQUIRED; I CHOSE ZZZ1. I HAD PLENTY OF FUEL TO REACH ZZZ1; BUT BECAUSE I COULD NOT CLB VERY HIGH DUE TO ATC; MY FUEL BURN WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. I MENTIONED TO ZZZ1 APCH THAT FUEL WAS A CONCERN AND I'D LIKE TO LAND ASAP. HE TOLD ME I WAS 12TH IN LINE FOR FINAL. I SAID THAT WILL NOT WORK FOR ME. HE SAID 'ARE YOU DECLARING AN EMER?' I SAID 'NO; BUT IF YOU FLY ME 1/2 WAY ACROSS THE LAKE; I'LL HAVE ONE.' HE OPENED A POS ABOUT 4 MI OUT ON FINAL; AND AT THAT POINT I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GET THE AIRPLANE ON THE GND. SO I DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL AND TOLD HIM I WANTED TO LAND NOW; I BELIEVE I COMPLIED WITH HIS REQUEST TO SAY THE WORD 'EMER;' TO EXPEDITE. HE TURNED ME INBOUND AND OVER TO TWR. TWR SAID; 'CLRED TO LAND AND THE TRUCKS ARE ROLLING.' I SUGGESTED THAT ROLLING THE TRUCKS WAS RIDICULOUS; AS THERE WAS NO EMER. HE SAID THAT JUST WHAT WE DO WHEN AN EMER IS DECLARED. I STILL THINK IT WAS A RIDICULOUS WASTE OF MANPOWER; AS THERE WAS NO ISSUE. AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AND TAXI TO CUSTOMS ENSUED. I STILL HAD 250 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD; BUT WE ECLIPSE PLTS LIKE TO BE ON THE GND WITH 300 LBS; FOR MORE SAFETY; EVEN THOUGH 250 LBS IS ADEQUATE. I MADE THE PROPER CALL; GIVEN HAD I FLOWN ANOTHER 10 MI; I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DIRE CONSEQUENCES HAD I NEEDED TO GO AROUND FROM MY ORIGINAL APCH TO LNDG; NOT TO MENTION ONE 10-15 MINS LATER. THE TWR CONTENDS; PER FAA; AFTER I SPOKE WITH FAA; I SHOULD HAVE DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL MUCH SOONER. I SAY; GIVEN MIDDLE OF THE DAY; VFR; HOW WOULD ONE HAVE GUESSED THERE WOULD BE A 25 MI FINAL? NEXT TIME; I WOULD HAVE LANDED AT ANOTHER ARPT; FUELED THE AIRPLANE; AND DEALT WITH WHATEVER ISSUES CUSTOMS WOULD HAVE HAD WITH THAT DECISION. IN MY VIEW; FAR FEWER HEADACHES; AS ZZZ1 MADE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. THE ZZZ1 FSDO WAS VERY HELPFUL AND CONCURRED WITH MY DECISION MAKING. THEY DID SUGGEST; HOWEVER; AN EARLIER DECLARATION OF MINIMUM FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE ATC MORE HEADS UP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.