REFLECTOR: How to fuel up and live to tell about it.

[sbjknox]

Here is a much simpler method that takes care of all situations.... just 
clamp the chain to whatever you stick into the filler hole.

Sid Knox
Oklahoma

Velocity  173 RG  N199RS
Starduster  N666SK
KR2         N24TC
W7QJQ

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Larry, I'm also concerned about static on the surface of the fuel itself and 
the additional frictional static charge created by the falling fuel.  Your 2 
cents on this list summation would be appreciated:

Fueling a composite airplane...

Ground pump/truck Airplane onto exhaust or engine.
Put antistatic mat around filler cap.
Leave the gas cap on until you have the fuel filler nozzle in your other 
hand.
Use free hand to open the gas cap.  This puts the nozzle, you and the gas 
cap/filler ring all at ground potential before combustible vapor is 
available.
Flowing gas produces additional static electricity so make sure the nozzle 
remains:
in contact with the filler ring AND
submersed in fuel during the fueling process if possible.
Replace cap and latch before going to the next tank.
Repeat.
Unground airplane.

Karl
On Jan 31, 2012, at 2:32 PM, reflector-request at tvbf.org wrote:
>
> All.
>
> It’s winter and the time for static electricity.  It's also the time for 
> fueling accidents.  Last week in Kansas City someone totaled his Chevy 
> pickup at the gas pump to say nothing of what he did to the canopy he was 
> parked under.  This was all caught in the station surveillance camera. The 
> gentleman was sitting in his truck with the door open and the gas hose 
> filling the tank.  He then slid off the seat, turning himself into a 40 
> thousand volt time bomb.  He walked back and grabbed the fill nozzle. 
> FOOM!  Since fill nozzles have to be grounded by law and it was in contact 
> with the all metal truck, this was not a grounding problem of the vehicle. 
> If this guy had of touched anything metal as he slid of the seat this 
> would not have happened.
>
> You can ground the metal stuff on a Velocity but you cannot, no matter how 
> hard you try, ground your fuel tank wings or the gas in the tank because 
> they are all non-conductors.  The metal ring for the fuel cap is metal and 
> can have a static charge if it is not wired to the ground of the plane and 
> you attach the ground clip like you're suppose to.
>
> If you follow this technique it won't matter if it's grounded or not. 
> Leave the gas cap in place until the plane is grounded and you have the 
> fuel nozzle in your hand  Now use your free hand to open the gas cap. 
> This will guarantee that the nozzle, you and the gas cap/filler ring are 
> all at ground potential before combustible vapor is available.  Flowing 
> gas will produce static electricity so make sure the nozzle remains in 
> contact with the ring during fueling.  Replace and latch the cap before 
> going to the next tank.  Repeat.
>
> Larry Coen
> N136LC
>
> 
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