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-   -   Visual fuel check paid off (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=114954)

airguy 07-08-2014 03:39 PM

If the lineboy were truly new to the job and not experienced (at all) with aircraft fuel tanks, he may have tried to fill them like you fill a car - stick it in, turn it on, when it clicks off it's full. That won't work on an aircraft tank...

PeteP 07-08-2014 03:58 PM

It pays to look
 
As a third year Ag Pilot we were busy as could be right at the peak of the season. I had the loader fill the hopper with my preplanned chemical load and he knew that I always topped of the Ag Husky fuel tanks. I went to talk to another farmer and check his maps while this was going on. Came back in a rush and asked the loaded if he filled her up. Yup he says. I always clip my maps to the instrument panel before lighting the fire so that they don't blow away or worse yet fall into the mostly open bowls of the Ag Husky. I blast of and am work a field about 10 miles from the airport and after a short while I remarked to myself how well the old gal was performing today. After a few more swaths the light came on that she was performing a little to well so I snatched the maps off the panel...Lo and behols both tanks were showing empty. Now we all know that a TSIO520 wants about 18 to 20 GPH to keep the fan turning.I prayed and kept an eye on every useable road and field all the way back to the airport. Landed and taxied up to the refill pad and as I swung the tail around the old gal sputtered. Long story short one tank empty and the other has something right at the published unuseable fuel level. Had a long talk with the loader and then a heated discussion with the pilot (me) that is about how stupid I was for not visually checking even thought this loader had always been there and did it all correctly. Just takes once to ruin the whole day. Never left the ground since that day without pitting the old mark one mod one eyball on each tank.

dmaib 07-08-2014 05:52 PM

An unintended consequence of installing the Andair locking fuel caps is that I almost always remove the cap and stand right there and watch the aircraft being refueled, and then replace the cap, (on the rare occasions that I do not refuel it myself) since I have the key to unlock the caps. I have, on occasion, given the key to the fueler when I had some reason that I could not be right there to witness the fueling. I am always vaguely uncomfortable when that situation arises, so I open the caps back up and visually check the fuel before departing. Even with fairly accurate gauges, super accurate flo-scan, and being the only one flying the airplane, I am uncomfortable not making a visual check before flying.

BillL 07-08-2014 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVDan (Post 895605)
Someone might recall the details, but the FAA made a big deal about visually checking fuel levels in preflight for aircraft with questionable quantity indicating systems. I think they even stated the need for a marked dip stick if necessary to determine the quantity. I seem to recall that they went so far as calling it negligent if you failed to do a visual check.

Even with a fuel totalizer and independent quantity indicators there is nothing like seeing it for yourself.

Indeed! A 1969 C182 I flew had the same fuel gages as my 1950 Plymouth Cranbrook!! It was NEVER correct. I wonder how many years they were used.


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