Vern
Well Known Member
I stopped by another hangar this morning and got into a lengthy discussion about all the airplane/hangar fires we have seen and heard about.
I wanted to start this thread so newbies in particular won't repeat these dangerous situations.
My friends told of plane after plane they had known off or witnessed where a fire destroyed or damaged someone's dreams.
They told of a twin which had a visible fuel leak on a turbo charged (hot) engine that the pilot insisted on flying.
A 700k plane burned up when the dehumidifier in the T hangar caught fire.
A Skylane which was flown even though fuel was dripping constantly from the wing.
A mechanic who was draining fuel tanks on a twin when it burst in to flames from a static discharge. It was sitting in the hangar in the same spot where a plane had caught fire the month before.
They spoke of a puddle of fuel on the hangar floor which was ignited when a person drug some insulation across the floor nearby. The flames went from the puddle to a nearby plane.
I had a brand new RV catch fire in my hangar while the tanks were being calibrated for an EFIS.
I pulled a man out of a burning plane which had a fuel line fitting come loose after an engine install. The fitting had never been tightened .
I sat with a mechanic who was working on a fuel system on a twin. He was interrupted and missed a fitting when he resumed work. After he cowled it up, six people took off in the twin which exploded within his sight. How'd you like to have that memory?
I used to work in a shop where the IA kept a bottom third of a 55 gallon barrel full of fuel out on the hangar floor for parts cleaning. He would clean parts in it with a cigarette dangling from his mouth!
I helped out an RVer whose RV burst into flames during runup when the copper primer line broke. His shoes were melted to the floor. In a moment every wire and hose FWF was toasted.
There are more stories, but the point is: many folks may not realize how dangerous fuel is and the fire danger we face with airplanes. Something as simple as calibrating a fuel system can have horrible results.
Never work on draining tanks, etc inside a hangar. Work only on humid days, not dry days when static is common.
Ground the plane and fuel containers when you do. Have extinguishers right there where they would be needed. Have a buddy helping watch for static flashes,etc. Triple check all fittings!. Check them when you uncowl.
What are some other tips you know of?
I wanted to start this thread so newbies in particular won't repeat these dangerous situations.
My friends told of plane after plane they had known off or witnessed where a fire destroyed or damaged someone's dreams.
They told of a twin which had a visible fuel leak on a turbo charged (hot) engine that the pilot insisted on flying.
A 700k plane burned up when the dehumidifier in the T hangar caught fire.
A Skylane which was flown even though fuel was dripping constantly from the wing.
A mechanic who was draining fuel tanks on a twin when it burst in to flames from a static discharge. It was sitting in the hangar in the same spot where a plane had caught fire the month before.
They spoke of a puddle of fuel on the hangar floor which was ignited when a person drug some insulation across the floor nearby. The flames went from the puddle to a nearby plane.
I had a brand new RV catch fire in my hangar while the tanks were being calibrated for an EFIS.
I pulled a man out of a burning plane which had a fuel line fitting come loose after an engine install. The fitting had never been tightened .
I sat with a mechanic who was working on a fuel system on a twin. He was interrupted and missed a fitting when he resumed work. After he cowled it up, six people took off in the twin which exploded within his sight. How'd you like to have that memory?
I used to work in a shop where the IA kept a bottom third of a 55 gallon barrel full of fuel out on the hangar floor for parts cleaning. He would clean parts in it with a cigarette dangling from his mouth!
I helped out an RVer whose RV burst into flames during runup when the copper primer line broke. His shoes were melted to the floor. In a moment every wire and hose FWF was toasted.
There are more stories, but the point is: many folks may not realize how dangerous fuel is and the fire danger we face with airplanes. Something as simple as calibrating a fuel system can have horrible results.
Never work on draining tanks, etc inside a hangar. Work only on humid days, not dry days when static is common.
Ground the plane and fuel containers when you do. Have extinguishers right there where they would be needed. Have a buddy helping watch for static flashes,etc. Triple check all fittings!. Check them when you uncowl.
What are some other tips you know of?