The bulletin
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SPECIAL
AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION
BULLETIN
REGULATORY SUPPORT DIVISION P.O. BOX 26460 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73125-0460
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
No. NE-00-03 October 7, 1999
SAIB’s are posted on the internet at http://av-info.faa.gov This is issued for informational purposes only and any recommendation for corrective action is not mandatory.
Applicability: HIGH Octane Engines Fueled With Contaminated Fuel in Chico, California.
Introduction The FAA has been alerted that Aviation Gasoline (AVGAS) delivered to Pacific Fli ght Services Inc. (PFS) of Chico, California (airport identifier CIC) was contaminated with jet fuel and was therefore not co mpliant with the applicable fuel specification (ASTM D910). The non-compliant AVGAS was delivered on August 31, 1999 and sales were suspended on September 21, 1999. The recommendations in this Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) are applicable only to aircraft that have purchased this fuel, and that are approved for operation with fuel with octane numbers greater than or equal to 100 . A separate SAIB, No. NE-00-02, has been issued for aircraft that purchased this fuel, and that are approved for operation with fuel octane numbers less than 100.
Background The contamination appears to have occurred when a fuel delivery truck (common carrier) loaded the 100LL AVGAS on top of approximately 1000 gallons of jet fuel that remained on the truck from a prior delivery. It appears that the highest concentration of jet fuel in PFS’s AVGAS storage tank was 7.7% and was further dilute d by subsequent deliveries of fresh (on-specification) AVGAS. Therefore, the most severe im pact on octane rating occurred at the initial delivery of the contamin ated fuel, and this impact lessened with each subsequent delivery of on-specification AVGAS.
The octane rating, or antiknock quality, of AVGAS is measured using laboratory engines and is expressed in terms of lean and rich ratings of the fuel. AVGAS is available with lean/rich ratings of: 80/87, 91/96, 100/130 and 115/145.
Laboratory studies have shown that the l ean rating is little affected by the add ition of up to about 6 volume percent jet or diesel fuel, but the rich ra ting can be adversely affected if contaminated by these fuels. If the rich rating of the resulting contaminated fuel mixture falls below the rich rating requirement of the engine, the potential for combustion knock, or detonation, exists. In this case, the initial (w orst case) octane rating of the AVGAS/jet fuel mixture was estimated to be 100/115, which, under so me operating conditions, may not be sufficient to prevent detonation in engines rated for 100LL, 100/130, or 115/145 AVGAS.
The recommendations below specify maintenance actions inte nded to prevent engine damage, and possible in-flight failure, due to detonation. Issuance of this SAIB does not negate the need for an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to mandate these actions, and the FAA will continue to monitor the situation to determine if an AD is necessary.
Recommendations 1 The recommendations in the SAIB are applicable only to aircraft that meet both the following criteria:
a. fuel requirement of 100LL, 100/130 or 115/145 octane
b. fueled with AVGAS supplied by Pacific Flight Services FBO, Chico, California between August 21 and September 21, 1999.
NOTE: For aircraft not meeting criteria (a) above, but mee ting criteria (b) above, please refer to SAIB NE-00-02 for recommended corrective action. However, aircraft not meeting criteria (b) are exempt from compliance with SAIB NE- 00-02 and NE-00-03.
2. These aircraft are identified in distribution listing provided below.
ACE-98-xx 2
3. The following maintenance actions are applicable to these aircraft and are recommended to be accomplished prior to further flight:
a. The engine should be removed from the aircraft.
b. The engine should be completely disassembled and in spected for possible damage caused by detonation.
Particular attention should be given to piston pi n areas, ring lands, cylinder barrels and combustion chambers. Evidence of detonation damage or ove rtemperature conditions should be repaired in accordance with the engine manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.
c. Completely drain the fuel tanks and the entire fuel system.
d. Flush the fuel system with on-specification AVGAS and check for leaks.
e. Fill the tanks with the proper grade of on-specification AVGAS.
4. Report compliance with the above recommendations by email or fax to the FAA contact specified below. Please include the registration number of your aircraft, and provi de information regarding evidence of engine damage (if available).
Distribution The FAA has received reports that the following aircraft m eet criteria (a) and (b) of item 1. under Recommendations.
Please see NOTE if the listed registration number does not meet both (a) and (b) criteria.
N1049Q N109BT N110WW N112HP N121NA N135EZ N146RV N1822X N1826K N182HA N188JK N18941 N19WB N200PV N201BP N20444 N2103L N210HE N21161 N2190H N222SS N2346G N2480S N25NL N263B N28256 N295RS N30J N3115A N3215D N3372D N340WA N3442X N35689 N3617W N3692Y N404DF N406DF N408DL N4139T N4235T N4236Q N424PC N4324D N4451S N451DD N453DF N458DF N4624D N46498 N471DF N47DL N49039 N5066Q N51586 N52364 N52862 N5348D N54042 N56MP N6043J N6169N N6222X N6329Y N6342L N6421Q N66GR N67298 N699AC N707BR N711JF N714NT N7194C N728CT N734RA N736JD N737FS N73FC N74DT N74SA N7526J N75559 N756JT N7711M N7947K N7962C N79833 N82FA N836E N84643 N85322 N911DS N91CZ N9330T N9388R N9395V N9485P N9560S N98554 N99RP N43SM N8532Z N406WA N438M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Federal Aviation Administration, Mark Rumizen, ANE-110, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, Tel: (781) 238-7113, Fax: (781) 238-7199, email: mark.rumizen@faa.gov.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE
Airworthiness Directives (AD) for a particular make and m odel of aircraft are mailed to the aircraft owners using the permanent mailing address on file with the FAA Registry. If you need to change your address, please complete this form and mail to FAA Aircraft Registration. A revised Certif icate of Aircraft Registration will be mailed to you without charge.
Signature requirements:
— Individual owner must sign.
— Partnership, a general partner must sign.
— Co-owner, each co-owner must si gn, continuing as necessary on an attached sheet.
— Government, any authorized person may sign.
MAIL TO:
FAA Aircraft Registry, AFS-750 Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center P.O. Box 25504 Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0504 AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION NO.
SERIAL NO.
MAKE
MODEL
ADDRESS CHANGE REQUESTED
NAME AND ADDRESS OF CERTIFICATE HOLDER
___________________________________________________________ STREET
___________________________________________________________ CITY
___________________________________________________________
STATE ZIP COUNTRY
SIGNATURE (In Ink)
TITLE
DATE
CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION REQUESTED:
(check applicable block, sign, and date)
1. Aircraft sold to: (Purchaser's name and address)
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. Aircraft destroyed/scrapped
3. Aircraft exported to _______________________________________________
4. Other, specify ___________________________________________________
I (we) request cancellation of registration for the above reason.
SIGNATURE (In Ink)
TITLE
DATE
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Regulatory Support Division P.O. Box 26460 Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0460 AFS-610
Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300