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-   -   United fuel leak gusher at EWR (https://www.pprune.org/north-america/595888-united-fuel-leak-gusher-ewr.html)

AmericanFlyer 31st May 2017 11:41

FAA proposes to fine United for flying unairworthy aircraft
 
FAA proposes fine for United, accusing it of flying a plane not in 'airworthy condition'

Blind Squirrel 14th Jun 2017 21:56

Like this one?

United flight almost took off with jet fuel gushing out | New York Post

b1lanc 14th Jun 2017 23:39

United fuel leak gusher at EWR
 
Not what I would want to see prior to take-off - UAL and BA seem to be of the same customer service mindset.

United flight almost took off with jet fuel gushing out | New York Post

etudiant 15th Jun 2017 00:13

The video shows the fuel was flowing from what looks like the in flight dump pipe.
I don't know why that would not get picked up by the instrumentation, should there not be a large fuel flow discrepancy?

Separately. considering the social cost of such an event, I'm surprised United does not have a contingency plan for support staff to step in and help manage the aftermath.

HEMS driver 15th Jun 2017 00:38

UAL still doesn't "get it." Friends don't let friends fly on United.

rottenray 15th Jun 2017 00:59

Well, I'm not a United fan, but it doesn't look like the plane was on a runway, so, not about to take off.

Had to be some widebody, as most narrowbodies don't have fuel dump ports.

rotornut 15th Jun 2017 01:03


...the couple were invited into the cockpit where they were given a glass of champagne
That definitely solved the problem.

Fly3 15th Jun 2017 07:04

Looks more like fuel venting from a surge tank.

g-code 15th Jun 2017 08:01

Definitely looks like it's being vented or the check valve failed.

The story is definitely overhyped. It looks like they aren't even off the ramp/haven't started moving.

Also, why are some passengers getting hotels but not the "heros"?🙄

Cleared Visual 15th Jun 2017 10:05


Originally Posted by rottenray (Post 9802466)
Had to be some widebody, as most narrowbodies don't have fuel dump ports.

763 according to several media reports. Flightaware seems to confirm it.

underfire 15th Jun 2017 12:30

I guess a flight from New Jersey to Venice might be a tip off to the type of plane that it is not!

MarkerInbound 15th Jun 2017 14:00


Originally Posted by etudiant (Post 9802451)
I don't know why that would not get picked up by the instrumentation, should there not be a large fuel flow discrepancy?

Fuel flow is measured going into the engine. Hard to say from the video if the engines are running. Not enough spillage to show up on the quantity indicators. Not a 767 person but as said above, either a failed check valve in the dump system or the plane was topped off while cold and as the day's temperature climbed and the hydraulic pumps were turned on preflight the surge tank filled and vented outboard.

AmericanFlyer 16th Jun 2017 06:52

United flight to Italy had fuel coming out of wing - flight aborted before takeoff
 
United flight almost took off with jet fuel gushing out | New York Post

PPRuNe Towers 16th Jun 2017 07:49

http://www.pprune.org/north-america/...usher-ewr.html

Super VC-10 16th Jun 2017 08:44

Even the fuel doesn't want to fly United anymore.

WingNut60 16th Jun 2017 10:01


Originally Posted by MarkerInbound (Post 9802944)
Fuel flow is measured going into the engine. Hard to say from the video if the engines are running. Not enough spillage to show up on the quantity indicators. Not a 767 person but as said above, either a failed check valve in the dump system or the plane was topped off while cold and as the day's temperature climbed and the hydraulic pumps were turned on preflight the surge tank filled and vented outboard.

I have noticed fuel flow from the vent pipe on a 747 during acceleration on more than one occasion. I presumed that it was something that could happen normally for a fully-fueled aircraft.
The old CX and SQ long-hauls out of YVR notably took most of the runway to get up and away, frequently trailing a spray from the vent pipe; too much to just be condensation off the wing.
Is there a pressure relief function coming into play there, perhaps?

hoss183 16th Jun 2017 10:30

I've also seen fuel from the dump ports in a 747 on takeoff. The captain announced shortly after that it was nothing to worry about. I found it slightly strange though. In normal operation valves should be fully closed. I really can't believe theres a simple open overflow pipe like a toilet cistern ;)

ACMS 16th Jun 2017 12:01

On the 744 it didn't come from the dump pipe, It came from the outboard surge tank vent ( NACA scoops )

Quite common out of LA when the Engineers used to squeeze all the fuel into the tanks they could on 15 hr flights requiring full tanks.....I can't recall exactly what they did to squeeze in an extra tonne or 2 of fuel but after the LAX airport authority complained about fuel spills during taxy out and takeoff they stopped the practice.

Anyway this 767 had a different issue

WingNut60 16th Jun 2017 12:07


Originally Posted by ACMS (Post 9803863)
On the 744 it didn't come from the dump pipe, It came from the outboard surge tank vent.

Thanks for that. I have often wondered what I was actually seeing.
To clarify, was that venting controllable, or was it a simple open vent, as suggested by hoss183

ACMS 16th Jun 2017 12:15

Not controllable at all. Either a fault causing fuel to transfer into then fill the surge tank and over flow out onto the ground or the Engineers worked their magic and fitted in a bit too much Jet A.....
We needed all the fuel we could take on some westbound transpacific flights and the Engineers thought they found a way to squeeze in some more for us.

It worked 90% of the time but 10% of the time some spilled out during taxy, airport authorities don't like Jet A ruining their tarmac.....


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