Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2004 12:52:41 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-2973247@logan.com>
From: "Robert Smiley" <rsmiley@centurytel.net>
References: <list-2972656@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Details on the Static Discharge that Totaled '03 Lancair ES 
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I would assume if you keep your fuel tanks full of fuel at all times when
parked or stored you will go a long ways for safety to keep out moisture as
well as reduce fuel vapor build up. This might reduce the possibility of an
explosion.

How about grounding the plane to a ground rod drilled through the hanger
floor and driven into the ground in the vicinity of your powerplant as the
plane is parked in the hanger? A short three or four foot pigtail wire with
clamp attached to the nosewheel or exhaust should do the trick.


Antedotal story

I once had an experience with an ignited fuel tank in a wrecking yard. We
were burning scrapped out cars. 17 in a pile with doors off, door posts
collapsed tires and seats inside, gas tanks removed, frames and motors cut
out.  We used gas for accelerant by cutting out a fuel tank and pouring fuel
on the cars, using doused wooden sticks, set down the fuel tank lit the
sticks and tossed them onto the cars. What an experience to see 17 cars
ignite. The flames where over 100 feet high.  At least that is the memory I
have as a 17 year old kid.

We admired the scene for a while, I looked back behind us, the fuel on the
ground was burning in several places where ignited fuel drops from the stick
were thrown from the toss.  There was  also a blue flame  pulsating out of
the mouth of the fuel tank which immediately caught our serious attention
whereupon all  we dove for the nearby pit hole.   After several minutes, one
employee went to the tank with a shovel and put dirt onto the tank mouth and
put out the flame.  That tank probably had about 4 gallons of fuel
remaining.

Bob Smiley
N94RJ