Mysterious Fuel System Contamination

[Keith Lane]

I got an e-mail from a friend who was at one time based at McCollum Field on the north side of Atlanta. (KRYY). If this is something intentional, it's scary.

Friends of McCollum



All RYY Based Pilots,

A pilot of a twin engine aircraft based on the northwest apron has reported a disturbing situation. Over the last four weeks he has been experiencing high temperatures and power losses during flights. He has been all over the southeast during this time. During the latest maintenance inspection to repair the problem they found a substantial amount of a substance similar to sheet rock dust in the aircraft's fuel strainer. This "dust" was causing problems with the fuel injectors and filters. The pilot has no explanation how the material could have gotten into his fuel tank.

He is filing a police report.

I have checked with the local maintenance shops and we have no other reports of something similar occuring.

If you have any information on this matter or have experienced anything similar please let me know.

Karl Von Hagel, A.A.E.
Airport Manager

 

[tonycondon]

did he have it waxed lately? ive found 'dust' like material in fuel sample that turned out to be some wax compound that found its way under the caps after a wax job.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

During the latest maintenance inspection to repair the problem they found a substantial amount of a substance similar to sheet rock dust in the aircraft's fuel strainer.

How similar? Aluminium oxide can be a white powder.

 

[Geico266]

If it was an experimental I would guess the builder was experimenting with non standard aviation materials? Drywalling the interior?

(The above is a lame attempt at Friday afternoon humor and therefore cannot be taken seriously, the writer is /allegedly, reportedly, maybe under the influence of adult beverages.)

 

[maddog52]

I got the email also. The first thing I thought of was that it could possibly be the quary dust that accumulates on everything at the field. Maybe it accumulated under the gas cap like the wax as was suggested earlier. A very unusual case no matter what.