Date: 201308
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Tower, US
Weather elements / visibility: Clear; 30
Aircraft: Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Operating under: Part 91
Mission: Personal
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Confusion; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Flying to ZZZ to buy fuel there; usually cheaper; and to see monthly friends; much later than usual; but NOT over hurrying; knowing I was low on fuel; particularly after sitting in the hangar; evaporating; the simple old Scott cork Floats; useless at low fuel --- I went out and purposely took off to get level; dip a wing; the way you really find each wing tanks real low fuel situation -- I did all that; saw that no way should I gamble; be stupid after 62 years of safe flight in the trusty; perfectly understood Luscombe. I believe I advised the Tower that I might purposely abort the takeoff so they were properly advised. As I recall they were busy; and I'm not sure if I got that in or not. I always try to help; help the com to work. My great always flawless radio had apparently grown less clear. Bench checked by Avionics shop; it was perfect; and the Nav. spot on. I was eager to see if it was good; if maybe the mike switch was fading; or not; needed replacement. The Tower guys are in a vastly better environment than in a noisy cabin; but everyone helping; cooperating is the proper game. The next problem is that the sequenced; normally easy enough fuel ordering pump instructions can be less than clear; washed out; behind an obscuring poor celluloid window; normally easy enough; but always at least a bit of a bother getting past the ordering process. If you spend too much time getting the hose arranged; actually getting the fueling started; [and] you get timed out; get frustrated. The guys before me on the other pump couldn't get his Harmon Rocket Fuel cap off; vocally worrying about getting timed out; wanted to use my Key to wedge his recessed gas cap handle up; to remove the cap. No surprise; I didn't want a guy using my key as a pry bar; but pleading; not pleased; I let him do it. Hearing him do all this; semi verbally; as I set up; I had appropriately set the ladder legs out at the Luscombe wing; body; landing gear complex; dragged out the bulky hose; hung it on the ladder; climbed up; taken the gas cap off; all to be ready to go; be sure to not get timed out; as he was fighting his gas cap yelling for my key - that he didn't want to get timed out.The FAA could do some good; GET RID OF THE OVERKILL HOSES that distract; get the attention back on easily; safely; comfortably fueling! That's why the FAA set up this reporting system; to find the hidden problems. That's why I'm willing to put in print here where I made a simple; but important mistake; how and why; so maybe some poor guy with less experience doesn't get hurt; or killed; completely unnecessarily. I was fortunate to have a manageable situation; and to be able to manage it; make a normal landing!




Synopsis: Luscombe pilot reported 'refueling' his aircraft without actually pumping any fuel after failing to flip the pump reset lever. An engine failure due to the dry tanks ensued.