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Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 11:08 pm
by ingramleedy
ingramleedy wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 8:07 pm
Is there any acceptable amount of avgas mixed into Jet fuel? What happens? Or What could happen? Most of the comments I could find are about getting Jet-A fuel in AvGas vs the other way around.
The reason is the other day on a rental (Austro Engine), the sump of Jet-A had a hint of blue -- it was very very faint if so or was just some weird light from the surroundings... I had watched the fuel truck fuel it up Jet-A too.
Engine ran fine, no issues. I did watch the guages very closely --- I did not see any over heating or anything unusual.
I wondered if anyone else has had similar experience?
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Fri May 05, 2023 1:28 am
by carym
The plane never flew again with those engines so I presume it was on the ground. I no longer remember the details
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 3:37 am
by Boatguy
These mis-fueling episodes have all led to crashes and sometimes death:
100LL into a diesel
Jet-A into a Lycoming/Continental
Diesel exhaust fluid (aka AdBlue) into a turbine engine
Nobody is safe from potential error by line personnel.
I always fuel upon arrival and watch the entire process:
1) correct truck
2) correct grounding point
3) add the amount of fuel I want (top up or XX gallons)
4) properly close the caps
It's totally annoying and can easily take 15-20min. It would be nice to be able to say "fill'er up" and walk away, but that doesn't seem to be a viable option.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 1:14 pm
by Colin
There's nothing you could do about the third mistake. That was something happening where the fuel trucks were set up. And it wasn't an error by the line personnel fueling the plane, so sadly you couldn't connect it to the people you would have been interacting with.
I have never seen someone ground the plane wrong. Have you had to correct people on that?
My new SOP is to make sure the right truck has pulled up and the hose starts to unwind. Unbelievably, I have, since that first mis-fueling, watched the 110LL truck pull up, but the line guy at the plane waved them away.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 3:10 pm
by Boatguy
Colin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 1:14 pm
There's nothing you could do about the third mistake. That was something happening where the fuel trucks were set up. And it wasn't an error by the line personnel fueling the plane, so sadly you couldn't connect it to the people you would have been interacting with.
True.
Colin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 1:14 pmI have never seen someone ground the plane wrong. Have you had to correct people on that?
Yes, frequently with the DA40NG. First they want to clip to the muffler. Then even after being directed to the grounding point, they will want to clip onto the OAT sensor. The DA62 will be easy for them since the muffler is the grounding point.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 4:33 pm
by Soareyes
Boatguy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 3:10 pm
Colin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 1:14 pmI have never seen someone ground the plane wrong. Have you had to correct people on that?
Yes, frequently with the DA40NG. First they want to clip to the muffler. Then even after being directed to the grounding point, they will want to clip onto the OAT sensor. The DA62 will be easy for them since the muffler is the grounding point.
Last weekend in Ft. Lauderdale the line girl went to hook it to the nose gear. I pointed to the tail pipe. She frowned disapprovingly, apparently not wanting to scratch it. I kind of laughed and then pointed to the wing tie-down, clearly marked with a grounding symbol. She shook her head and attached it there.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Wed May 10, 2023 2:06 am
by mfdutra
The main problem I have with the DA62 is that I always top off the mains. If they really top off, the tanks will vent and make a huge mess on the ground.
My other line of defense is to check the fuel receipt. That's probably never wrong, because they have to track each truck in the system.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Wed May 10, 2023 4:12 pm
by Colin
Yes, it was the receipt at the desk that saved me from taking off with 110LL in the tanks.
I really wish Diamond had a tab in there which meant "above this it is going to spit out onto the ground." I doubt I would ever fill past that. It's an extra gallon or two and I can't remember the last time that made a difference in when I was landing.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Wed May 10, 2023 4:34 pm
by CFIDave
Colin wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:12 pmI really wish Diamond had a tab in there which meant "above this it is going to spit out onto the ground." I doubt I would ever fill past that. It's an extra gallon or two and I can't remember the last time that made a difference in when I was landing.
In effect, Diamond has a "tab" in the fuel filler opening: There's a vertical metal tab into which the wire that secures the fuel cap attaches. We trained the local FBO fuel service guys to "just get the tab wet" when fueling. This prevents overfilling and fuel coming out of the fuel vents on the bottom of the wings, yet still puts 25 gallons into each main fuel tank.
Re: Any DA-42 misfuelings?
Posted: Wed May 10, 2023 6:26 pm
by photoSteveZ
Boatguy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 3:10 pm
The DA62 will be easy for them since the muffler is the grounding point.
You, sir, are an optimist.
The grounding point decal on my DA62 is partially scraped off where a lineperson took the graphic literally and tried to clip the grounding cable to it.
