Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 10:55:09 -0500 From: Bulent Aliev Subject: COZY: [Fwd: Danger while refueling from cantainers.] Received: from mail5.bellsouth.net ([205.152.80.6]) by mail-bkup.mia.bellsouth.net (8.8.8-spamdog/8.8.5) with ESMTP id IAA06801; Thu, 4 Feb 1999 08:04:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from avocet.prod.itd.earthlink.net (avocet.prod.itd.earthlink.net [207.217.120.50]) by mail5.bellsouth.net (8.8.8-spamdog/8.8.5) with ESMTP id HAA27120; Thu, 4 Feb 1999 07:52:17 -0500 (EST) Received: from noname.nodomain.nowhere (pool008-max17.mpop2-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net [207.217.243.58]) by avocet.prod.itd.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id EAA01401; Thu, 4 Feb 1999 04:59:41 -0800 (PST) Sender: root@avocet.prod.itd.earthlink.net Message-ID: <36B9A777.3150AEC5@earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 05:58:15 -0800 From: Paul X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (X11; I; Linux 2.0.33 i686) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: z Subject: Danger while refueling from cantainers. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Anderson Ed wrote: > > For Peter Cowan > > Pete below is my account of the incident. Conclusion from folks that > know more than I is that any flowing fluid (air, gasoline) generates a > static charge. Some recent information in Sports Aviation (EAA Mag) > about voltage test verifies this. I apparently broke contact between > the container and the funnel I was using while pouring permitting a > potential difference between the container and funnel to develop which > eventually resulted in a static discharge and what followed: > > The day was 60 OAT, a slight breeze, and humidity I estimate was around > 78%. It was not one of those days where you get static electricity > being generated by walking across the rug, brushing the cat. > > But, here is the account of the incident and why I don't carry auto gas > to the airport anymore: > > Subject: > RV-List: Hot Time > Date: > Mon, 05 Jan 1998 11:19:28 -0500 > From: > "Anderson Ed" > > Am sending this to the entire RV-List even though it is a little on the > long side as I believe others can benefit from the following experience. > > I had a rather exciting experience that occurred while refueling my > RV-6A. I have a Mazda 13B as a power plant using auto fuel. Not having > auto fuel at the airport, I have been transporting it in a 5 gallon > plastic container (approved for auto fuel) and using a funnel to pour > the gasoline into the wing tank. Sensitive to the risks of static > electricity, I always "grounded" (I know - I question whether you can > truly "ground" a plastic container) the plastic container against the > airframe prior to pouring in the gasoline. I have refuel the aircraft > many times before using this method (as well numerous lawn mowers, weed > wackers, etc). I had hauled the aircraft out of the hangar and had it > sitting in the middle of the tarmac in front of the hanger and had > commenced to refuel. > > Well, this time it happened. As I was approximately half-way through > pouring from the five gallon container into the funnel (the plastic > funnel is a very wide mouth with a filter cartridge in its center- used > to quickly fill race cars) the fireworks started. The gasoline ignited > with a "Swoosh" and I found myself holding a flaming funnel as well as > the five gallon container which had flames coming from its opening. > > Needless to say, things got very exciting and busy in a hurry. As I > reacted to the flames going off, I swung the container away ,which was > in my right hand, removed the flaming funnel from the wing tank opening > with my left hand. In the process, I sloshed some flaming gasoline onto > the wing and tarmac. And flames were now also coming from the opening > of the wing tank. So by quick count, I had flames coming out of the > wing tank, some burning on the wing, a patch burning on the tarmac, a > flaming funnel as well as the 5 gallon container on fire. Did I say > things got exciting in a hurry? I immediately move the flaming > container about 12-15 feet away from the aircraft and set it down, > quickly move the flaming funnel about 5 feet from the container and laid > it down.. Immediately dashed to the plane and placed the fuel cap into > the tank opening stuffing out that fire, smothered the fire on the wing, > ran back to the container and placed its lid on the flaming opening > smothering that fire, moved the still flaming funnel further away, > smother the fire on the tarmac and then returned to smother the funnel. > > Finally, all fires are extinguished and I take time for a breath. > Wasn't timing myself as I was somewhat distracted at the moment, but > believe the entire event from ignition to all flames out was around > 30-45 seconds (could be wrong about the time, but not by much). Old men > can move quickly if motivated properly. > > Yes, I did have a fire extinguisher, but had neglected to take it out of > the car and when I ran to the car and reached under the drivers seat - > IT was NOT there (Later found it under the passengers seat). I > also have a small Halon fire extinguisher mounted between the seats of > aircraft - but, again distance and flames were between it and me. > Won't make that mistake again. Also, I will never use a plastic > container again, but will use a metal one with a little cable attached > that I can ground to the aircraft. I will also not use a plastic > funnel, but > will probably use one of the rotary pumps with hose and nozzle grounded. > > So the good news is no damage to me or the aircraft and a much wiser me. > So, while it had not ever happened before, I quickly found out that one > time is one time too many. > > For your consideration > > Regards > > Ed The Aircraft Rotary Engine Newsletter. Powered by Linux. http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/ http://www.linux.org From: cdenk@ix.netcom.com Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 18:38:06 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: COZY: [Fwd: Danger while refueling from cantainers.] 2 items: ONE have an extinguisher handy wher the possible flames won't be. Two: The other week on "Motor Week" auto magazine on the PBS TV: Fuel containers must not be on pickup bed liners or trunk carpeting, since its not grounded. Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 16:55:21 -0800 From: hrogers@slac.stanford.edu (Howard Rogers) Subject: COZY: Re: Danger while refueling from cantainers. Thought I'd throw my own experience in here, concerning filling from plastic containers. Nearly ten years ago, I started a long air-commute from Placerville, Ca. to Palo Alto (100nm, as the crow flies). I learned a lot, and not the least of it was about auto-fueling with my Grumman. Before I got set up with a proper, dual-filter serious fuel pump setup that let me fuel just like the fuel truck at the airport, I did a fair share of fueling from metal "jerry cans" and from 5 gallon containers. I had read about all the horror stories, so I took some precautions that worked for me, 100 percent of the time. I still strongly advise against this practice, but I know that, in the real world, it is occaisionally unavoidable. So, for those who are TEMPORARILY in that situation, here is my personal list of suggestions to minimize the chances for a tragedy. First, get a filter funnel from Wicks or ACS (if they still carry it--I haven't checked lately). The one I refer to is plastic, but it is CONDUCTIVE. It sits very nicely in my Grumman's open filler neck without tipping over. It will also stop water from passing through the fine mesh filter in the center (hey, it is a very special funnel!). Second, do whatever it takes to be able to set the funnel in the tank and have it STAY there, unassisted. Bulent's friend, ED, explains the reason why. If it does light, your natural reflexes will make you jerk away. It is ok to jerk the can away, but it is NOT ok to jerk the funnel away, or to spill it! If the burning gasoline isn't flung onto you, it is, indeed, a miracle (Ed was a very lucky guy, and I bet he wouldn't argue otherwise). Third, have the fire extinguisher out of the truck/car/plane/whatever, and sitting in a logical, handy, but not TOO close place, upwind of the potential fire. Fourth, touch the funnel to the plane before opening the cap, and touch the can nozzel to the plane, before bringing it near the funnel. Fifth, (and this my own personal method. I don't claim that it is 100% foolproof, and I base it on experience and common sense) I start the flow of gas into the funnel, then upend the whole can. I hold my thumb over the can vent, and control the outflow very easily. I allow the funnel to fill to about 3/4 full, and I make sure the nozzel tip is submerged in the gas. It then becomes simple to control the flow, and keep the tip submerged throughout the entire emptying of the can. The drawback to this method is that it is not easy to inturrupt it, once started, without spilling at least a little. It also gets your face a bit close to the action. For this last reason, I always wear a full-face shield while I'm doing this. I have never had a problem with this method, and I have done it more times than I like to admit. I can see some potential difficulties with trying to do the same with one of our canard birds. The only way I could see to make it work, would be to extend the nose gear and tie the nose down, so the fuel tank was close to level. Of course, with a plastic airplane, things are a bit different, and the wet wipedown sounds like a very good additional precaution. The possibility that scares me the most would be if there just happened to be an explosive mixture in a nearly empty tank at the time of the spark. I have not heard of it happening, and it isn't likely, but I don't believe that it is impossible. Oh, yes, like Ed, I NEVER did this in the hangar. No matter how annoying, I always pulled the airplane outside first. A second, competent person holding the fire extinguisher is another worthwile precaution, if a buddy is hanging around anyway. Having it in your hands already can reduce the entire incident to a few seconds, which is definitely a good thing. Regards, --Howard Rogers 650-926-4052 hrogers@slac.stanford.edu pager: 650-997-1089 Web Page: http://www.stanford.edu/~hrogers/index.htm New! email directly to my pager (approximately 50 word limit). Try it!: 6509971089@alphapage.airtouch.com