Service difficulty report · Vent · Boeing 234

Difficulty date
March 10, 2005
Submitted
May 2, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Boeing 234
Aircraft time
26,900 hours
Engine
Lyc AL5512
Part
Vent
Part number
234PS4691
Part serial
119
Condition
Failed
Location
Fuel Tank
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
E, H

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

(CAN) DURING REFUELING, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM CABIN OF AIRCRAFT. FUEL WAS THEN SEEN LEAKING RAPIDLY FROM AIRCRAFT. PILOTS NOTED FUEL INSIDE CABIN SECTION BUT NOT IN COCKPIT. ENGINES WERE SHUT DOWN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TURNED OFF AND PILOTS EXITED AIRCRAFT THROUGH THEIR EMERGENCY EXITS. COCKPIT DOOR WAS CLOSED WHICH KEPT FUEL FROM SPRAYING INTO COCKPIT. BREAKAWAY VENT FOR NR1 FUEL TANK HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE TANK TO OVER PRESSURIZE DURING REFUELING. TANK STRUCTURE FAILED AT 90 PERCENT CAPACITY RELEASING FUEL INTO CABIN. THERE ARE NO WARNING SYS TO ALERT CREW OF FAILURE. REFUELING SEEMED TO BE TAKING LONGER THEN USUAL BUT CREW WAS USING A NEW PUMP AND DID NOT ASSOCIATE FLOW RATE WITH A VENT FAILURE.

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