Fuel Tank Inerting System
I note that the BAe Safety report recommends "mandating of heated fuel tank area inerting during flight, and ....... in-service retrofitment of a fuel tank nitrogen inerting system to prevent the occurrence of an explosive vapour in a partially filled tank.
Since the XV230 accident, Nimrods have been flying with drained No 7 tanks (RTI/MIN/173 carried out before every flight). However, drained does not mean completely free of fuel and vapour.
Any thoughts on this one? To me it does not appear to be a safe operating condition.
No 7 tanks featured in the XV227 incident in 2004.
DV