The only reason I'm aware of why designers include a fuel dump
capability is when they design a landing gear system which cannot handle the
maxmum takeoff gross weight. This is often the cse on large jets --
think of an airliner which may have a gross weight double that of its
typical landing weight. In this case, a landing required immediately
after takeoff would require a fuel dump, which could easily be a 15 minute
process.
I know of no cases where designers include a fuel dump provision to
reduce post crash fires. That's not to say the idea is without merit,
but I would not bother with it. Instead, I would take measures to
prevent inadvertent fuel release after a survivable crash. I'm not
sure how to do that -- would a flexible fuel line (say, steel braided)
be less likely to tear than a hard aluminum line? Would a silicone
fireproofed fuel line be less likely to rupture (those puppies look pretty
indestructible)? What about a header tank -- I imagine that five
gallons of fuel just above your knees is not a good place for a fuel leak
(and yes, my airplane has the header tank).
But dumping the fuel before an off-airport landing? I don't think
I would do that, but that's just me.
- Rob Wolf
p.s. the NASA test in the early 1980's involved a remotely-piloted
Convair 720 with an anti-misting additive in the fuel. As I recall,
the remotely piloted airplane did not hit the intended point on laning and
thus the objects intended to puncture the tanks, well, ithey pretty much
ripped the wings apart, releasing the fuel all at once. This was a
test failure and the explosion-inhibiting anti-mist additive was not
adequately tested. Needless to say, they did not repeat the
test.