De-fueling

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KevinC
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De-fueling

Post by KevinC »

Been reading some pretty good horror stories on the Backcountry Pilot site about static-induced fires related to fueling & de-fueling. Anyone out there know the proper and safe way to do it with a Highlander?

k
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Tralika
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Re: De-fueling

Post by Tralika »

First and foremost, DO NOT de-fuel the plane inside a hanger. Ground the plane, avoid using plastic fuel cans, avoid doing it on cold dry days, keep a good fire extinguisher nearby.
John Nealon
Wasilla, Alaska
Highlander Extreme #191
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CanadianSheepHunter
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Re: De-fueling

Post by CanadianSheepHunter »

KevinC wrote:Been reading some pretty good horror stories on the Backcountry Pilot site about static-induced fires related to fueling & de-fueling. Anyone out there know the proper and safe way to do it with a Highlander?

k
Whats the link for the "Backcountry Pilot Site"
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Tralika
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Re: De-fueling

Post by Tralika »

This is a link to a Youtube video that shows the aftermath of an aircraft fire started by static electricity. There is a detailed written description of the fire below the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7IulTJlifo
John Nealon
Wasilla, Alaska
Highlander Extreme #191
mykitlog.com/jnealon
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danerazz
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Re: De-fueling

Post by danerazz »

Tralika wrote:This is a link to a Youtube video that shows the aftermath of an aircraft fire started by static electricity. There is a detailed written description of the fire below the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7IulTJlifo

Yikes!

That sucks!

This is old, but eye opening:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2sSqzLPMb4s

Also, here is some EAA guidance for fiberglass tanks...anybody do something like this?

http://www.contactmagazine.com/Hangar_T ... nding.html
Dane

Paralysis by analysis
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BDA
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Re: De-fueling

Post by BDA »

If its grounded there is no static charge

Ground everything. Every time you move every item while fueling


Look for a grounding stick like helicopter crews use - and build one.

Use the ground strap at your fueling station ALWAYS - for the plane.

And Ground stick for the can/ hose

You all know this. But we have to make it easy to do the right things or we take short cuts.

Plan ahead, make it easy to ground all your components.
Last edited by BDA on Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
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jvdrev
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Re: De-fueling

Post by jvdrev »

Hello All

The important fact to remember is that grounding your aircraft does not accomplish anything fuel transferring safety wise UNLESS the fuel inside that tank has an electrical bonding path to that grounding point. And also the refuelling spout needs to be at the same polarity as that grounding point. So even if you ground your refuelling barrels it means nothing if you then use a fuel transfer hose that has no metal braiding internally that grounds the fuelling nozzle back to that fuel supply grounding point.

Safety wise in all my refuelling helicopter days I would always ground the metal nozzle against a bare metal bolt on the aircraft before opening the fuel tank cap and inserting the nozzle even after grounding the aircraft and having my fuel supply grounded.

James
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danerazz
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Re: De-fueling

Post by danerazz »

BDA wrote:If its grounded there is no static charge

Ground everything. Every time you move every item while fueling


Look for a grounding stick like helicopter crews use - and build one.

Use the ground strap at your fueling station ALWAYS - for the plane.

And Ground stick for the can/ hose

You all know this. But we have to make it easy to do the right things or we take short cuts.

Plan ahead, make it easy to ground all your components.
That is all good advice, but the tanks (well, older ones anyway) are fiberglass, and there is a metal fuel filler ring. The tanks are installed with a non-conductive adhesive. They are totally insulated electrically from the rest of the airplane. Clamping a grounding wire to anywhere on a composite tank Highlander does nothing unless you have taken some other significant measures to provide electrical bonding.
Dane

Paralysis by analysis
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pbsinohio
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Re: De-fueling

Post by pbsinohio »

I had some thoughts on this grounding issue for my escapade build. As the wings fold, on a pin, and there is no solid grounding bond from the fuel tanks to the AC fuselage frame. My intent is to install a #6 gauge jumper between the rear spar and the AC frame. Probably about 8" or so in length. My (aluminum) fuel tanks are solidly mounted to the rear and front spars. The engine already has a bonding jumper(#6) between the engine and fuselage frame. I do intend to test the bonding path with a VOM for low resistance.

Philip
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danerazz
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Re: De-fueling

Post by danerazz »

Just need to figure out what to do with “plastic” tanks.
Dane

Paralysis by analysis
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danerazz
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Re: De-fueling

Post by danerazz »

Just wanted to bring this back up, anybody have any thoughts on static bonding of their composite tanks?
Dane

Paralysis by analysis
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Croughwell
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Re: De-fueling

Post by Croughwell »

If you are really concerned, I would add dry ice to the gas tank. Dry ice is used in gas station tanks to make the vapor inert. The dry ice will boil and the by-product is CO2. The CO2 will replace the normal oxigenized air and since only the vapor is combustible there's no longer a threat of ignition by a spark.
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