Originally Posted by
runway16
Hmm! There is an issue here. Double engine failure in a twin is very unusual. Foreign matter in the filters? What was that and how did it get in there? It looks like that aircraft will fly again after a buff-up. Good work by the pilot. Nothing worse than having a twin engine glider. Bet a change of his undies after a very strong coffee.
From the ATSB report: The aircraft often operates through the channel countries of South Australia and Queensland, a lot of the time in
dusty conditions. Refuelling is carried out using drum stock when contaminants could easily be introduced into the
fuel system.
The rapid blockage of the fuel filters, which occurred after the aircraft departed, was probably the result of the
aircraft fuel system being contaminated over a period of time with an accumulation of extremely fine particles
which would have been difficult to detect during water drain checks, and settled forming a sediment at the bottom of
the tank. These remained relatively undisturbed until fuel was added to the low level of fuel in the tank, stirring the
particles into suspension. This may have concentrated the contamination so that the filters, already partially
degraded by contaminants, were further degraded quickly to a point when fuel flow to the engines was severely
restricted.
DF.