It's beach weather

We have so much beach around us in Durban that there's a strong possibility one would have to do a beach landing in the event of an engine problem. This was obviously a good one on the beach in Durban yesterday and apparently the plane took off again from the beach after fuel contamination had caused engine failure.

Llewellyn and I took this as an opportunity to discuss and learn more about possible causes, prevention and remedies for fuel related problems. Here's what we came up with:

 

Before Take-off

 

1. Use the black electro-conductive approved filter when filling the tanks.

2. Physically check the fuel levels in both tanks and ensure you have enough for the proposed flight.

3. Bleed the fuel from the tank drains and check for water or other particle contamination.

4. Start and warm up the engine on one tank, then switch to the other tank for taxiing and mags check, so that you can be sure both tanks are capable of fuel delivery before you leave the ground.

 

During flight

 

5. Don't switch tanks if you are close to the ground.

6. Put the fuel pump on before switching tanks.

7. Don't run one tank near empty before switching so that if you need to switch back you will have some fuel left to get you to a landing field.

8. If you experience a fuel problem, switch to the other tank and if necessary re-start the engine.

I'm not suggesting any of the above were the cause of the problem with FMJ, we just thought we would think more carefully about it as a real potential problem every time we fly.

Fuel Shortage

I am still puzzled (see Dec story) by the short-delivery of fuel from the petrol stations where I get my mogas (95 unleaded car petrol from the same stations you fill up your car) for my aeroplane. Not getting any consistent quantity of fuel in my container, I brought it inside to check my measurements with a measuring jug. This proved that my original lines on the petrol container were more or less correct and that I am being short-changed when I refill the container.

The exception was Saturday when my container was again fiulled up to the line... it almost seems that the measuring device the petrol stations use depends on the weather or air pressure, so that when the QNH is lower you get more fuel? Is this possible? How do the petrol station's bowser dispensers work and does air pressure affect the accuracy of these?

I have asked Wendy Knowler of East Coast Radio's Consumer Watch to investigate, as at R11 a litre, a 2l shortage on every 25l fuel sold means about R25 per car tankful of petrol consumers are being overcharged nationwide (when the weather is good?) Does the sunny-day filling up of your tank subsidise those who fill up on a rainy day?

Getting what you pay for?

One wonders how well the fuel bowsers are calibrated. Here is a pic of my measured container showing 2 litres less fuel given by the petrol station when the bowser showed 25l and charged for 25 when giving 23 - that's a 10% loss. Going to phone the calibration company to complain.