ASI News

You’ve learned the importance of checking your aircraft’s fuel for quantity and contaminants. Having plenty of gas to get to your destination is unquestionably an important piece in flight planning, and just as important is paying careful attention to what can cause your aircraft to be misfueled. Although it is less likely to happen when renting an aircraft from your local flight school, it is something to watch for when topping off the tanks at a different airport.

A simple miscommunication during a fuel order can result in an aircraft’s tanks taking on the wrong fuel. If you’re flying a piston aircraft, jet fuel contamination of avgas (100LL) is especially dangerous because it’s impossible to distinguish pure 100LL from a mixture of 100LL and Jet A just by checking the fuel’s color. “A 50/50 mix of 100LL and jet fuel looks just like avgas,” said Air Safety Institute Senior Vice President George Perry. “The old drain-and-look method is not good enough. What you really need to do is put your nose in it and smell. If you detect an oily smell, then unfortunately there’s a high likelihood that your fuel is contaminated.” Unlike 100LL, Jet A fuel has a zero octane rating. If a piston engine runs with a mixture of 100LL and Jet A, engine-destroying detonation will almost certainly occur.

To make sure there is no doubt about the type, location (tanks), and amount of fuel needed, ASI developed fuel ordering cards that can be personalized with information specific to an aircraft. The cards, which can be ordered online (www.aopa.org/fuelcards), will help all involved in the fueling process clearly communicate and confirm the correct fuel order.

For tips on preventing misfueling and how AOPA’s customizable fuel ordering cards can help, see “Prevent Misfueling—Carry the Card that Can Save Your Life!” (www.airsafetyinstitute.org/fuelcard). Also, check out ASI’s Fuel Management Safety Spotlight (www.airsafetyinstitute.org/spotlight/fuel) for additional information on proper fuel management.