The Business Card That Can Save Your Life

[GeorgePerry]

Misfueling accidents are easily preventable if pilots take some simple precautions, and the AOPA Air Safety Institute wants to help! To make sure pilots and those responsible for fueling their aircraft have no doubt about the type, and amount of fuel needed, the institute developed a variety of fuel cards that pilots can personalize with information specific to their aircraft. The cards, which can be ordered from Vistaprint, will help pilots, line service personnel, and FBO customer service reps clearly communicate and confirm the fuel order to help prevent misfueling. So if you've ever left the airport and wondered "I hope they fuel it right" the Air Safety Institute has you covered!

And just in case you're wondering - Nope, AOPA isn't doing this to make money, we're doing it because it makes sense and it's the right thing to do.  These are sold at cost through Vistaprint.  

In addition to using the fueling safety business cards, ASI recommends these simple steps to help prevent misfueling:

 

·        Communicate the type a quantity of fuel you need (this is where the refueling safety card can help)

 

·        Be present to supervise the refueling. Make sure the fuel markings on the truck is right for your aircraft (100LL or Jet-A)

 

·        After fueling, check the receipt to verify that your aircraft has received the proper fuel type and quantity.

 

·        ALWAYS sump the tanks before flight, especially after fueling

 

·        Be sure to SMELL the fuel in addition to looking for contaminates.  If it smells like kerosene you’ve got a problem.

 

 

[1964-M20E]

Good idea

[N201MKTurbo]

Just smell it, you can't get that JETA smell out of anything.

[carusoam]

Brilliant idea George & AOPA.

Getting fueled while I'm not there is one of the things that always leaves me with some level of discomfort.  The VistaPrint folks can probably put a picture of the plane on there as well.

Thankyou and Best regards,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

Just now, carusoam said:

Getting fueled while I'm not there is one of the things that always leaves me with some level of discomfort.  The VistaPrint folks can probably put a picture of the plane on there as well.

Your Absolutely right! The Air Safety Institute wanted to make this template available. The important part of this is the "idea". If pilots want to use their own design or customize with a picture, GREAT! For us it's not about the branding, but all about safety. Hope you like the idea...

[Yooper Rocketman]

Until you have or see another pilot go through a miss fueling, this may not look important.  I went the the Lancair / LOB convention in Greenville SC the fall of 2014.  Since I'm building a prop jet, I was talking to the owner of one at the FBO when he arrived to leave.  He looked at his fuel slip as he was paying and realized they had fueled his plane with Avgas.  They pulled out his fuel request, and it was clearly marked Jet A.  Of course, he had placards right next to the fuel caps indicating Jet A as well.  It cost the pilot a considerable delay, and the FBO some serious reputation issues, time and money to fix the problem.  Had he NOT caught it, I am not sure what kind of outcome he would have had.

Tom

[steingar]

26 minutes ago, Yooper Rocketman said:

 Had he NOT caught it, I am not sure what kind of outcome he would have had.

I am.  He and his airplane would have been at the bottom of a big smoking hole.  Score one for AOPA, damn good idea.

[MyNameIsNobody]

-Placards...Check

-Double check pump is correct (at unfamiliar self-serve pump)...Check

-ALWAYS sump-look-smell...Check

Look VERY closely for the fuel put in plane...on self serve receipt-e-mail receipt-FBO receipt...Learned something today...New Check!

Thanks George-AOPA

[201er]

Boy I wish I had one of those cards when I put 30 gallons of JET A in my Mooney myself! The pumps weren't clearly marked and I was tired after a long flight. I was baffled why they use such a big nozzle, but everything's big in Texas... I think sumping doesn't help with Jet A cause it floats above avgas! Practically no way to tell!

[GeorgePerry]

1 hour ago, 201er said:

Boy I wish I had one of those cards when I put 30 gallons of JET A in my Mooney myself! The pumps weren't clearly marked and I was tired after a long flight. I was baffled why they use such a big nozzle, but everything's big in Texas... I think sumping doesn't help with Jet A cause it floats above avgas! Practically no way to tell!

Actually Jet-A and 100LL mix surprisingly well.  The picture of the jar at the beginning illustrates this.  In fact I let the jar of mixed fuel sit untouched for over a week and the two fuels never separated.  Scary...

[201er]

Hey George, how many wrong fuel accidents have there been in the last year? Or statistically per year?

[M20F]

Water and Avgas separate fairly quickly but the water doesn't always flow to the sump locations quickly.  This is especially true on planes with a small dihedral like a 150/172/etc. or planes that have bladders which can have wrinkles or bulges in them.  Keep in mind that it is still winter and the water can and does freeze in places in the tank and can rethaw.  A good exercise is with some gap in your tanks measure out some water and start testing the sumps.  See how long it takes to get all the water back out to get an idea what you are dealing with directly after fueling.  It is also a good idea to fuel on arrival as opposed to departure so you have a much longer time to allow water to travel prior to sumping.

My simple rule is I don't let anyone other than me fuel my plane, I have never had a line guy or anyone give me grief when I say I want to pump at a fuel service FBO.  Keeps the inlets from becoming bent, high pressure fuel shot into floats, fuel caps go on right, I know exactly how much went into each tank, etc.

[carusoam]

Some other thoughts on this subject...

Water and avgas are immiscibile.  Their chemical properties will not allow them to mix together.  Their densities are significantly different as well which will make finely dispersed molecules of water sink to the bottom over time.  Alcohol has the solubility properties of both water and gas.  This is why some people use alcohol to allow for small amounts of water to pass through the fuel system.

George's photo shows the complete miscebility of the jet A into the 100LL.  Over time it is not going to separate.  Mixing gas and diesel has ruined many car engines as well.  Enough that automotive business changed the fuel nozzles to keep diesel from being accidently introduced into gasoline tanks.

Fortunately, the smell of Jet A is pretty unpleasant.  Unfortunately, with age, not everybody's noses works like they used to.  It's really cool when you can barely smell a skunk. Not so cool if you can't smell Jet A.

I think I'll set up a test to see if the nose still works for Jet A.  Worse thing that happens, I'll be witnessing the fueling process or borrowing somebody else's nose to do it.

There is also an evaporation test that may give a hint.  But, at 20°F, 100LL is not evaporating much either.  Side by side color comparison may be telling.  But George's jar looks awfully blue on it's own.

Thoughts of a PP, not a fuel expert...

Best regards,

-a-

 

[GeorgePerry]

I ordered my second set today!  thanks for all the likes.  

[Jim Peace]

On February 19, 2016 at 6:50 AM, steingar said:

I am.  He and his airplane would have been at the bottom of a big smoking hole.

Why do you say that?  Jet engines can run on avgas, especially a mixture of Jet fuel and avgas.  Granted it would not be pretty but not sure it would be a smoking hole in the ground.

If I remember correctly the old Lears I flew had a setting on the fuel controller if you had to use avgas to get you out of an airport that had no Jet-A.

 

Does anyone know if the newer turbo props can run on avgas if you are in a bind?

 

The absolute NO NO is putting avgas or jet fuel into the water injection tank on a G1.  Story for another day.....

Edited February 22, 2016 by Jim Peace

[steingar]

Just now, Jim Peace said:

Why do you say that?  Jet engines can run on avgas, especially a mixture of Jet fuel and avgas.  Granted it would not be pretty but not sure it would be a smoking hole in the ground.

If I remember correctly the old Lears I flew had a setting on the fuel controller if you had to use avgas to get you out of an airport that had no Jet-A.

 

Does anyone know if the newer turbo props can run on avgas if you are in a bind?

You may be correct.  I was thinking more of the non powered flight characteristics of the turbine Lancair designs.

[PaulM]

Various turbines have a hour limit for 100LL at about 150 hours per overhaul (PT6).. Please see your POH for specifics on your installation:  

EX: TBM900 

THE USE OF AVIATION GASOLINE (AVGAS) MUST BE RESTRICTED TO EMERGENCY

PURPOSES ONLY. AVGAS SHALL NOT BE USED FOR MORE THAN 150 CUMULATIVE

HOURS DURING ANY PERIOD BETWEEN ENGINE OVERHAUL PERIODS.

[kpaul]

Just now, PaulM said:

Various turbines have a hour limit for 100LL at about 150 hours per overhaul (PT6).. Please see your POH for specifics on your installation:  

EX: TBM900 

THE USE OF AVIATION GASOLINE (AVGAS) MUST BE RESTRICTED TO EMERGENCY

PURPOSES ONLY. AVGAS SHALL NOT BE USED FOR MORE THAN 150 CUMULATIVE

HOURS DURING ANY PERIOD BETWEEN ENGINE OVERHAUL PERIODS.

The PT-6 engine has that same restriction, but it will burn 100LL.

[Yooper Rocketman]

2 hours ago, Jim Peace said:

Why do you say that?  Jet engines can run on avgas, especially a mixture of Jet fuel and avgas.  Granted it would not be pretty but not sure it would be a smoking hole in the ground.

If I remember correctly the old Lears I flew had a setting on the fuel controller if you had to use avgas to get you out of an airport that had no Jet-A.

 

Does anyone know if the newer turbo props can run on avgas if you are in a bind?

 

The absolute NO NO is putting avgas or jet fuel into the water injection tank on a G1.  Story for another day.....

Actually, now that I think about it, the owner DID run the avgas in the plane.  It was a Walters 601D built by John Cook out of Deland FL (same builder and engine I am using) so he called John.  John advised him to finish filling the tanks (he was only maybe 70% full) to dilute it more and I believe he gave the owner some torque and/or power restrictions until he ran the tank of fuel off.  It still was an ugly situation I would rather not deal with.

On my Rocket, there is the wording "Turbo 231" on both sides of the fuselage just under the front windows.  Not sure if this is normal, or something a previous owner did during a repaint.  But, there has been at least two times line guys have asked me if I was a turbine requiring "Jet Fuel" (and yes, the fuel cap area has placards noting 100LL!).  Clearly they were in the dark, not knowing the difference between turbo and turbine, as well as the fact that a turboprop has a very noticeable thinner and longer nose.  Again going back to the O.P., the cards are a great idea.

Tom

[Jerry 5TJ]

On February 19, 2016 at 9:21 AM, Yooper Rocketman said:

..... Had he NOT caught it, I am not sure what kind of outcome he would have had.

Tom

The PT-6A in my P46T is ok with operating on 100LL.  It is limited to 150 hours though on pure gasoline.  We occasionally mix a gallon or two in with the JetA to inhibit bacterial growth.

It is piston gasoline engines that can't have contamination of their fuel.

[N33GG]

Smelling would work, but my smeller (nose) does not work that great.  When sumping my fuel, I always put some between my thumb and finger and rub.  You can clearly tell if any Jet A has be put in.  

Incase there are any other challenged smellers out there, FWIW.

[DXB]

I wonder how easy it would be to develop a cheap disposable tester (like litmus paper or something) to detect limited amounts of jet fuel contaminating 100LL?   Would be a lot easier than hovering over the guy with fuel truck- seems tough to do this consistently every single time, though I applaud those who are meticulous enough to do this.

[N33GG]

19 minutes ago, DXB said:

I wonder how easy it would be to develop a cheap disposable tester (like litmus paper or something) to detect limited amounts of jet fuel contaminating 100LL?   Would be a lot easier than hovering over the guy with fuel truck- seems tough to do this consistently every single time, though I applaud those who are meticulous enough to do this.

Agree, I have wondered about a simple test as well. 

Depending on the airport and situation, it is not practical to wait to watch the fueling of my aircraft. 

[Bravoman]

 I never, ever allow the fueling of my aircraft outside of my presence . I typically have it done when I get back to the field when I am ready to take my return trip. Otherwise, I always fuel my aircraft myself.  It is safer to live by the principle that if they can screw it up, they will. 

[Hank]

"Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool."