PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Pa28 - preflight actions - change to fuller tank
Old 6th Jun 2011, 05:43
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dirkdj
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Belgium
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If you ever run a tank dry in flight and fill it up afterwards, your problems are not over yet, as there may be air in the lines between the fuel selector and the tank outlet. This is the reason besides water in the fuel, to start and taxi on one tank and do the runup on the other tank (if you have two).

A friend of mine flew about one hour to a field because the local pump was U/S, ran one tank dry in the air at safe altitude, then filled up and never used this tank again until the third flight after the 'event' .He then switched to the 'fullest tank' ON THE RUNWAY just before takeoff just like it said in the checklist on the panel. There was still air in the fuel line between the tank and the fuel selector, the engine ran just long enough to stop at about 100 ft, but not long enough to put him in the houses at the end of the runway. Six months in hospital and several years before he could walk unaided again. Total loss on the aircraft.

I know from flying this aircraft earlier that it takes about 30 seconds easlly before the engine will restart after running a tank dry in the air.
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