The bulletin
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FAA Aviation Safety
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Engine Fuel and Control – Operation with Contaminated Jet Fuel SAIB: HQ-18-08R2 Date: June 10, 2019 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Revised Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) clarifies the recommendation regarding the dispositioning of jet fuel contaminated with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). The SAIB advises airplane operators, fixed base operators (FBOs), FAA repair stations, Flight Standard District Offices (FSDOs), and foreign civil aviation authorities of certain airplanes that uplifted jet fuel contaminated with DEF, or uplifted jet fuel using refueling equipment that was exposed to DEF. This SAIB also requests feedback regarding any service difficulties or operational anomalies of the identified airplanes and recommends that the owners of those airplanes consult with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of their airplane, engine, and auxiliary power unit (APU) to determine the appropriate inspection and corrective maintenance actions on their airplane. This revision corrects and clarifies the Recommendations paragraph.
At this time, the airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
During the period between November 18 and November 21, 2017, seven airplanes with civilian registry identified in Appendix 1 were serviced with jet fuel containing DEF at Eppley Airfield Airport, Omaha, Nebraska (KOMA). During the same time period, an additional six airplanes identified in Appendix 2 were serviced using refueling equipment that had been exposed to DEF.
The DEF was inadvertently used instead of fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII) on two refueling trucks at KOMA and injected into the fuel with each truck’s FSII injection system. Only those airplanes identified in Appendix 1 received the contaminated fuel, and only those airplanes identified in Appendix 2 were serviced with refueling equipment that had been exposed to DEF.
DEF is a urea-based chemical that is not approved for use in jet fuel. When mixed with jet fuel, DEF will react with certain jet fuel chemical components to form crystalline deposits in the fuel system. These deposits will flow through the aircraft fuel system and may accumulate on filters, fuel metering components, other fuel system components, or engine fuel nozzles. The deposits may also settle in the fuel tanks or other areas of the aircraft fuel system where they may potentially become dislodged over time and accumulate downstream in the fuel system as described above.
Airplanes identified in Appendix 1 have experienced clogged fuel filters and fuel nozzle deposits that led to service difficulties and unplanned diversions. Airplanes identified in Appendix 2 were exposed to trace amounts of DEF from residual fuel remaining in the refueling hoses and equipment.
The FAA has not received any service difficulty reports from these aircraft.
The crystalline deposits are not soluble in fuel, so they cannot be removed by flushing the airplane fuel system with jet fuel. The deposits are soluble in methanol and other polar solvents, but use of these chemicals may have adverse consequences on airplanes and engine fuel system materials.
Consequently, OEMs should be contacted to develop inspection techniques and corrective maintenance actions appropriate for each specific aircraft model type and its level of exposure.
Jet fuel that has been contaminated with DEF no longer meets the aviation fuel operating limitations of airplanes certificated to operate on Jet A fuel, and therefore, cannot be used on those airplanes.
Jet fuel that has been removed from airplanes listed in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2 should be downgraded to other non–aviation fuel grades and not used on airplanes in the future.
The FAA is monitoring the situation to determine if additional action is required. The FAA is requesting that any service difficulties and maintenance and inspection findings on the aircraft identified in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2 be reported to us in support of this effort.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends the following:
1. Owners or operators of airplanes identified in Appendices 1 and 2 contact their airplane, engine, and APU OEMs to determine the appropriate inspection techniques and corrective maintenance actions to remove urea-based crystalline deposits from the fuel system. This may include the removal and replacement of fuel system parts or components affected by exposure to these deposits.
2. Owners or operators of airplanes identified in Appendices 1 and 2 report to the FAA any service difficulties (including fuel filter bypass and clogging incidents), fuel system repairs, and fuel system inspection results related to the presence of these urea-based crystalline deposits.
3. Jet fuel suspected of being contaminated with DEF that has been removed from the airplanes listed in Appendices 1 and 2 should be discarded and not be used on airplanes or other vehicles.
Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the OMB has approved the information collection contained in this SAIB, and assigned 0MB Control Number 2120-0731.
For Further Information Contact
Mark Rumizen, Senior Technical Specialist, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238-7113; mobile: (781) 402-4609; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: mark.rumizen@faa.gov.
3 APPENDIX 1 Civilian Aircraft that Uplifted Jet Fuel Contaminated with DEF
DATE AIRCRAFT
REGISTRATION
AIRCRAFT MAKE, MODEL SERIES
S/N FUEL QTY (gals) 11/20/2017 N45HF Learjet 45 121 555 11/20/2017 N426GF Raytheon 400A RK-218 147 11/20/2017 N793DC Beechcraft B200 BB-1404 147 & 152 11/20/2017 N460EM Raytheon C90A LJ-1593 106 & 104 11/21/2017 N32WK Pilatus PC-12/47E 1046 85 & 85 11/19/2017 N624PL Cessna 550 550-0402 50 & 50 11/20/2017 N61GB Raytheon 400A RK-341 175 & 270
APPENDIX 2 Civilian Aircraft that Uplifted Jet Fuel Using Refueling Equipment that was Exposed to DEF
DATE AIRCRAFT
REGISTRATION
AIRCRAFT MAKE, MODEL SERIES
S/N FUEL QTY (gals) 11/20/2017 N842WC Textron Aviation B300 FL-1094 50 11/20/2017 N503AS Cessna 525A 525A0445 75 & 76 11/20/2017 N109NS Raytheon 400A RK-452 91 & 93 11/18/2017 N913DE McDonnell Douglas MD-88 49956 1828 11/19/2017 N279D Cessna 525B 525B0070 210 11/19/2017 N234KA Beech B200GT BY-234 129 & 128