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Wrong kind of fuel was used in plane that crashed near Kokomo, report indicates


Muda69

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https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2019/10/10/kokomo-plane-filled-wrong-fuel-before-fatal-crash-ntsb-says/3933296002/

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A small plane that crashed near the Kokomo Municipal Airport and killed the pilot last week had been filled with the wrong kind of fuel, a new report indicates.

Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel P. Greenwald, 59, died when the twin-engine Piper Aerostar 602P, crashed 3.6 miles south of the Kokomo airport about 4:40 p.m. Oct. 5. 

The crash happened after an apparent engine problem shortly after takeoff, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report.

As the pilot was approaching the airport, the worker asked him if he wanted jet fuel "because the airplane looked like a jet airplane," according to the report. The pilot said yes.

The Aerostar 602P is powered by piston engines, not jet engines, according to AircraftBluebook.com.

When the pilot landed, the worker asked him again if he wanted jet fuel, and the pilot again said yes, according to the report. 

The nozzle for the jet fuel did not fit, as piston engine airplanes usually take 100 octane low-leaded fuel, according to the National Business Aviation Association

"The employee said that he was able to orientate the different shaped nozzle... from the Jet A fuel truck by positioning it 90 degrees over the wing fuel tank filler necks and about 45 degrees over the fuselage filler necks," the report said.

The airport worker added about 163 gallons of jet fuel to the airplane. 

"(The worker) said the he initially spilled about one gallon of fuel during refueling and adjusted his technique so subsequent fuel spillage was minimal," the report said.

The report did not name the worker.

A man who answered the phone at the Kokomo Municipal Airport Thursday referred questions to the city attorney. IndyStar left voice and electronic messages with the attorney seeking comment.

The pilot conducted a training flight with a student from 10:45 a.m. until sometime before 4:30 p.m., the report said. The pilot had just taken off from the airport when a witness told investigators the plane turned sharply left and dipped out of sight.

After the crash, the report said investigators found a clear liquid that appeared to be jet fuel in the tank and fuel lines.

...

Wow.  Can you say lawsuit?  A big one?

 

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Looks like this is nothing new according to the NTSB. Good luck with your lawsuit Muda, but I would say this one is on the pilot. 

https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Documents/SA_050.pdf

FTA:

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What can pilots do?

• Always tell line personnel your aircraft’s registration number, what type of fuel your aircraft requires, and which tanks to fuel. Then verify that the correct fuel is being provided.

• Ensure that your fuel placards are correct, in the appropriate location, and easy to read. Placards can degrade over time due to environmental exposure. • Be alert to the fact that line personnel may not be aware of the fueling requirements of your specific aircraft since STC modifications may replace a reciprocating engine with a turbine engine. Additionally, if an airport services smaller turbine helicopters, the fuel nozzles may have been modified so that the Jet A fuel dispenser is equipped with an avgas or round jet spout nozzle.

• Although Jet A fuel and avgas have distinct odors, colors, and evaporation properties, remember that a visual check alone may not detect that Jet A fuel and avgas have been mixed. The mixture can appear to be just avgas.

• Many pilots who have had misfueled aircraft have signed fuel receipts showing the wrong fuel was used. Use the receipt as an added safety check in ensuring that your aircraft was fueled with the correct fuel.

 

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