Mariner9 Quote:
SOMETHING caused this incident
Certainly did, and its clear that the fuel has to be one of the major suspects. However, if it was, I would suspect it was more to do with its fluidity/pumpability in a combined low fuel temperature/lowish fuel quantities (minimising the net positive suction head available) environment than any other quality issues. (Cant recall whether I've mentioned this before, but the viscosity of Jet is specified only at -20C)
Mariner9. Thanks for your detailed response.
It is obvious that you know a lot about Jet fuel compliance.
I glean from your response that fuel compliance (or at least production) is as I suspected somewhat of a "Black Art".
Your statement re viscosity measurement only at -20C is interesting.
I still suspect the fuel.
However, I never INTENDED to suggest that the fuel wouldn't burn (although others have suggested this).
I INTENDED to suggest that some property of the fuel caused it to exhibit strange TRANSIENT viscosity characteristics under SUCTION, as in fact you have stated above.
Maybe I didn't express myself clearly enough.
I have NO experience in aviation but as a professional engineer I find it difficult to come to any other conclusion (ON THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US) other than some aspect of the FUEL, conditioned by ENVIRONMENT, and FUEL SYSTEM DESIGN caused a condition that has not been previously considered.