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Cessna Pilots Check Your Tanks For Water Contamination |
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August 16, 2010 -
Recent safety information on Cessna 150, 170, and 172 series
airplanes caused the FAA to re-examine their efforts in preventing
accidents and incidents due to water contaminated fuel.
The FAA has put out a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin to
alert pilots, owners, operators, and maintenance and service personnel
of Cessna Aircraft Company (and formerly Reims Aviation S.A.) Model 100,
200, or 300 series, any model and/or prefix and/or suffix in the series
of airplanes as applicable of the hazards associated with water
contamination of fuel tank systems.
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The FAA is recommending you do the following:
1. Check your fuel tank system to assure it is equipped with fuel drain
valves (not plugs) at all permissible drain locations (i.e.; wing tanks,
manifold tanks, selector valves, shut-off valves, strainers, low points,
etc.). Become familiar with all drain locations on a specific model of
airplane. From model to model in a series of airplanes, the number,
type, and location of drains may not be the same. There is no single
point of drainage that can be used to check for all fuel system
contaminants simultaneously. Take the time to properly check all drain
locations, all of the time. 2. Check your fuel tank system to assure it is equipped with raised, umbrella-style fuel filler caps to preclude water ingress. Inclusion of reduced diameter adapters precludes misfueling also. Be sure the fuel vent system configuration of the airplane is maintained with any fuel cap selection. Incorrect fuel cap configuration may lead to reduced fuel flow, bladder collapse, oil-canning in flight, fuel hold-up in the tank, etc. with consequent engine failure. |
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3. With the airplane in the normal ground attitude and starting at the highest drain location, check all drain locations for contaminants before every flight, whether or not refueling has occurred. Have fuel sample disposal provisions, proper lighting, and a small ladder at your disposal to properly check for fuel tank system contamination.
? Drain at least one cup of fuel (using a clear sampler cup) from each
drain location.
? Drain the fuel strainer as required to completely flush its contents
in each of the fuel selector positions.
? Check for water, clarity, cloudiness, haze, proper fuel type/grade
(i.e.; 100LL is light blue in tint, jet fuel is clear or yellowish),
odor, or other contaminants.
? If any contamination is detected in the fuel tank system, thoroughly
drain all drain locations again.
? If contamination is observed, take further samples until the fuel
appears clear, and gently rock the wings and lower the tail to the
ground (or raise the tail and let back down on tail draggers) to move
any additional contaminants to the drain points.
? Take repeated samples from all drain locations until all contamination
has been removed. If contaminants are still present, do not fly the
airplane.
? Have qualified maintenance personnel drain and purge the fuel tank
system. Remove all evidence of contamination prior to further flight.
4. Take proper precautions to preclude water from entering into your
fuel tank system from an external source (washing, rain, snow, sleet,
etc.). Regularly check all external entry sites (caps, access panels,
etc.) for evidence of water ingress into the fuel tank system. When
possible store the airplane indoors. If stored outdoors or exposed to
wet conditions (washing, rain, snow, sleet, etc.), examine the fuel tank
system drains for contamination more frequently. Pay particular
attention to airplanes that have been externally cleaned and/or
refinished also.
5. During annual or 100-hour inspections do the following:
? Drain and flush the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl completely.
? Inspect the interior of metal fuel tanks for signs of corrosion, which
may indicate water contamination.
? Inspect the interior of bladder tanks for wrinkles, broken or missing
hangers, etc.
? If signs of contamination are found, alert the owner and fuel supplier
of your findings for corrective action.
6. Take precautions to preclude water migration in the fuel tank system
from an internal source (free water coming out of solution). Keep fuel
tanks full when the airplane will not be operated regularly. Keep fuel
tanks full between flights, provided weight and balance limitations
permit. Limit the fuel tanks exposure to large temperature fluctuations
as much as possible. If the airplane has been exposed to sustained wing
low or unusual attitudes or a fuel tank has been run dry, sump
contaminants may have migrated throughout the fuel tank system.
7. Know your fuel supplier. Regularly check and verify quality controls
are in place to ensure you receive only dry, uncontaminated fuel from a
supplier. Have on-field checks and verify to ensure continued supply of
dry uncontaminated fuel to an operator. Gain assurance that the fuel
supply has been checked for contamination and is properly filtered
before allowing the airplane to be serviced. When ordering fuel,
specifically state the exact fuel grade and quantity needed. Be present
at each and every refueling and observe the fueling process.
8. Collect all sampled fuel in a safe container and dispose of properly.
Related Advisory
Circulars Document No. Date Subject Owner AC 00-34A July 29, 1974 Aircraft Ground Handling and Servicing FAA AC 20-43C October 10, 1976 Aircraft Fuel Control FAA AC 20-105B June, 15 1998 Reciprocating Engine Power-Loss Accident
Prevention and Trend Monitoring FAA AC 20-106 April 1978 Aircraft Inspection for the General Aviation
Aircraft Owner FAA AC 20-122A January 29, 1991 Anti - Misfueling Devices: Their
Availability and Use FAA AC 20-125 December 10, 1985 Water in Aviation Fuels FAA AC 43.13-1B October, 8 1998 Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and
Practices ? Aircraft Inspection and Repair FAA AC 91-13C July 24, 1979 Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft FAA AC 150/5230-4A June 18, 2004 Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling and
Dispensing on Airports FAA
Special
Airworthiness Information Bulletin Document No. Date Subject Owner CE-07-06 October 27, 2006 Alcohol in auto gas FAA CE-06-06 October, 2005 Steel fuel tanks FAA CE-05-80 August 9, 2005 Cessna 120 and 140 Fuel Caps FAA CE-04-11 October 28, 2003 Cessna 182 Series Fuel Caps FAA CE-03-43R1 September 23, 2003 Cessna 100, 200, 200 and 400 series
fuel quantity gauging FAA
Cessna
Aircraft Company Document No. Date Subject Owner SEB92-23 September 4, 1992 Fuel System Quick Drain Modification Cessna SEB92-24 September 4, 1992 Fuel System Quick Drain Valve
Installation Cessna SEB92-25 September 4, 1992 Fuel System Quick Drain Valve
Installation Cessna SEB92-26 September 4, 1992 Additional Fuel Tank Drain Valves
Installation Cessna SEB 92-27 September 4, 1992 Raised Reduced Diameter Fuel Cap
Installation Cessna SE70-28 October 23, 1970 Fuel Tank Filler Neck Sealing Cessna SE69-15 July 18, 1969 Fuel Tank Quick Drain Valves Cessna SNL98-9 October 26, 1998 Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements Cessna D5139-13 June 1, 1998 Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements
(Reissue) Cessna SNL85-53 November 27, 1985 Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements Cessna D5139-13 October 2, 1985 Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements
(Orig. Issue) Cessna SE82-36 July 30, 1982 Fuel Contamination Cessna SE80-87 October 27, 1980 Fuel Contamination Cessna Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety
Foundation Document No. Date Subject Owner Safety Advisor Operations and Proficiency No. 5 Fuel Awareness AOPA Safety Brief No. 4 Misfueling AOPA |
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