X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from cdptpa-omtalb.mail.rr.com ([75.180.132.123] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.12) with ESMTP id 3484952 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:54:11 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=75.180.132.123; envelope-from=eanderson@carolina.rr.com Received: from computername ([75.191.186.236]) by cdptpa-omta04.mail.rr.com with ESMTP id <20090210005333.ZLEC4162.cdptpa-omta04.mail.rr.com@computername> for ; Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:53:33 +0000 From: "Ed Anderson" To: "'Rotary motors in aircraft'" Subject: Fire! Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 19:53:33 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0016_01C98AF0.16EC0340" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.5510 Thread-Index: AcmLGf9lbN2y+x4CRQCzhrXpDI+9Cw== X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 Message-Id: <20090210005333.ZLEC4162.cdptpa-omta04.mail.rr.com@computername> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01C98AF0.16EC0340 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Having experience two incidents involving aircraft and fire, I can say from some experience - be careful out there guys. Don't let a few minutes of extra effort deter you from following good safety procedures - it simply is not worth it. My experiences involved two flammable liquids - one automobile gasoline and one brake fluid. Since the topic is transporting fuel, I limit my comments to that subject. Some of you have hear this tale - so skip on to the next e mail of interest. 1st. If you are going to transfer fuel via the plastic "Approved" containers be very careful - they are NOT static electricity proof - unless they are metal. A large metal container with a self-contained pump with either a static resistant hose - some have a metal web either woven into the house or on the outside. Then ensure your fuel container and aircraft are grounded to each other and a good earth ground. Proper grounding is essential - just the movement from of fuel from you vehicle to the aircraft is sufficient to build up static charge either in a container being carried or from fluid flowing in a hose. Highly recommend a LARGE extinguisher (the kind you see on wheels) be available and near by - ensure you know how to operate it. In my case, I was pouring from an "approved" plastic container into a racing funnel with a paper filter cartridge in the middle, with the other end of it in my fuel tank. It was a bright sunshine 60F day when I apparently momentarily broke contact between all the components of the "refueling system" as I attempted to lift the container a bit higher to get more flow. One moment all was serene - then there was a soft "woomph" and - within an instant - I found myself with flaming containers in both hands and a potential flaming (pun intended) disaster staring me in the face. Startled I backed away from the aircraft and naturally the fuel in the funnel proceeded to run out and over the wing and onto the tarmac - need I say it was all ON FIRE!!!!. Vowing not to PANIC!, I quickly walked about 12-15 ft away and put down the funnel and container - both still burning furiously. I ran to my van and reached under the driver's seat for the fire extinguisher I always kept there - it wasn't there (Naturally, I had at some point earlier moved it over under the passengers seat where it had slid back out of sight and out of mind) I ran back to the aircraft, swiped the flaming fuel off the wing and picked up the fuel cap lying on the wing. Looking at the flames coming out of the fuel tank opening and thinking to myself "..this always worked in science lab." I slammed the fuel cap into the opening - and held my breath. I had a mental picture of this entire thing exploding into a fire ball. Interestingly enough I was more concerned about my new completed aircraft than about possible danger to life and limb - not a good mental state for continued health. Fortunately, I did not even get a hair singed on my arm and no damage to the aircraft. That was the time I made the decision to always use as refueling truck or station that had proper grounding equipment whenever possible. I know - I also used plastic containers to refuel various engines for over 4 decades and never had an incident. But, one is all it takes. So again, do it smartly not quickly - no finger being pointed at any one - just admonishment that just because it has not happened to you - does not mean it can't or won't. Best Regards Ed. Ed Anderson Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered Matthews, NC eanderson@carolina.rr.com http://www.andersonee.com http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html http://www.flyrotary.com/ http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01C98AF0.16EC0340 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 

Having experience two incidents involving aircraft = and fire, I can say from some experience – be careful out there = guys.

Don’t let a few minutes of extra effort deter = you from following good safety procedures – it simply is not worth = it.

 

My experiences involved two flammable liquids – = one automobile gasoline and one brake fluid. Since the topic is transporting fuel, I = limit my comments to that subject.  Some of you have hear this tale – = so skip on to the next e mail of interest.

 

1st.   If you are going to = transfer fuel via the plastic “Approved” containers be very careful = – they are NOT static electricity proof – unless they are = metal.  A large metal container with a self-contained pump with either a static = resistant hose  - some have a metal web either woven into the house or on the outside.  Then ensure your fuel container and aircraft are grounded = to each other and a good earth ground.

 

Proper grounding is essential – just the = movement from of fuel from you vehicle to the aircraft is sufficient to build up = static charge either in a container being carried or from fluid flowing in a = hose.  Highly recommend a LARGE extinguisher (the kind you see on wheels) be = available and near by – ensure you know how to operate = it.

 

In my case, I was pouring from an = “approved” plastic container into a racing funnel with a paper filter cartridge in = the middle, with the other end of it in my fuel tank.  It was a bright sunshine = 60F day when I apparently momentarily broke contact between all the = components of the “refueling system” as I attempted to lift the container = a bit higher to get more flow. One moment all was serene – then there = was a soft “woomph” and - within an instant - I found myself with = flaming containers in both hands and a potential flaming (pun intended) disaster = staring me in the face. 

 

Startled I backed away from the aircraft and = naturally the fuel in the funnel proceeded to run out and over the wing and onto the = tarmac – need I say it was all ON FIRE!!!!.  Vowing not to PANIC!, I quickly = walked about 12-15 ft away and put down the funnel and container  - both = still burning furiously.  I ran to my van and reached under the = driver’s seat for the fire extinguisher I always kept there – it = wasn’t there (Naturally, I had at some point earlier moved it over under the passengers seat where it had slid back out of sight and out of = mind)

 

 I ran back to the aircraft, swiped the flaming = fuel off the wing and picked up the fuel cap lying on the wing.  Looking = at the flames coming out of the fuel tank opening and thinking to myself =  “..this always worked in science lab…”  I slammed the fuel cap = into the opening – and held my breath.  I had a mental picture of = this entire thing exploding into a fire ball.  Interestingly enough I = was more concerned about my new completed aircraft than about possible danger to = life and limb – not a good mental state for continued health.  Fortunately, I did not even get a hair singed on my arm and no damage to = the aircraft.

 

That was the time I made the decision to always use = as refueling truck or station that had proper grounding equipment whenever possible.  I know - I also used plastic containers to refuel = various engines for over 4 decades and never had an incident.  But, one is = all it takes.

 

So again, do it smartly not quickly – no finger = being pointed at any one – just admonishment that just because it has = not happened to you – does not mean it can’t or = won’t.

 

Best Regards

 

Ed.

Ed Anderson

Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered

Matthews, NC

eanderson@carolina.rr.com

http://www.andersonee.com

http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html

http://www.flyrotary.com/

http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW

 

 

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