From: Klusmanp@aol.com
Message-ID: <a.ed0efd7.286bbc89@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 18:47:37 EDT
Subject: Re: Useable fuel
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
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In a message dated 6/24/01 7:17:03 PM EST, kc16@qwest.net writes:

<< The discussion also confirms my decision to build my LNC2 with the header
 tank and sight gauge.  What could possibly be more simple and consequently
 more trouble free?....I think the answer to that is....nothing. >>

One thing I've been uncomfortable about a header tank is that you have some 
volume of fuel inside the fuselage. During a forced landing the tank might 
rupture and spill raw fuel into the interior of the cabin with obvious bad 
results if there is a fire.

Of course I don't know if this makes a difference when the wing tanks are 
ruptured anyway. Is it possible to survive a fire by hiding out in a 
composite fuselage while the spilt fuel outside burns off? Do the cabins of 
these aircraft usually remain intact? I guess I need to check out the clip of 
the Lionheart crash that was mentioned a while ago.

I witnessed a crash of a Bombardier Challanger regional jet on a test flight 
last summer. The plane crashed just after liftoff. It only held a crew of 
three and I think it was a short test flight, so I'm guessing it had a small 
fuel load.  You wouldn't believe the flames and smoke this thing produced. 
The crew was trapped inside. One of the three guys was alive after the fire 
was put out but he died several weeks later. It was horrible.

It kind of sensitized me to the horror of burning to death while trapped in 
an airplane. Perhaps I am niave about a small header tank adding any real 
risk of fire when there is already so much fuel in the wing tanks anyway. I 
have certainly not studied crashes enough to say for sure. 

Still, I might be tempted to come up with some way of quickly venting the 
fuel from the header tank overboard if I did install one. Something like a 
small yellow handle I could pull just before impact and know the tank will be 
empty when I "touch down".

Paul Klusman
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