Commander @ KMQS

[brhoad]

I ran across Jovin Olikara (N6024P) during a fuel stop at Chester County
Turns out he was getting water out of the OUTBOARD sump drain on his right wing after refueling.
I thought the inboard is where you would typically find any water in your system??
Any thoughts out there on this?
Needless to say he is hesitant to continue his flight back to New Hampshire!

 

[steve267]

When it comes to sumping the wings and when and where you see most water depends on a few factors.

1. The fuel level prior to topping off. If the level is low and the fuel sumps were clear of water previously but now you see water, suspect bad fuel transfer.

2. Ambient temperature changes with either low or full tanks when not in use. If low level fuel, more of the wet wing tank skin is exposed to condensation.
Normally before parking up for the night, we top up with several gallons but not to the max and park up. So in the cooler months with greater daytime temperature changes. I would expect to see some water in my outboard sumps. This should never amount to much.

3. If exposed to heavy rain when parked outside. Like twice after the annual when I collected my plane. I sumped a bunch of water from the outboard drains during preflight. The tanks had 24 gallons of fuel each side. I assumed the recessed fuel caps trap water and depending on how good the cap seal is, water can seep in. This has never happened at any other time.

Lastly if by chance you transfer in some bad fuel, it still depends how low you were before refueling as where the water may end up.

Happy flying.
Steve

 

[Planecents]

Actually, if water is in there ( unless you pumped more water then fuel, it takes about an hour for the water to settle to the lowest point. Should be something about that in the POH or manual. Also, you should sump at a trickle or you will agitate the water back into the fuel. FWIW

 

[jjovin]

brhoad It was absolutely awesome meeting you and thank you for all the help and support while I was there! Loved seeing your 115 as well.

I am posting a Picture of how much water was in the fuel after I refilled at signature in Chester County. I had to sump out at least 18 vials of fuel to get it to come out clean. I had Traveled to Chester County from Cincinnati that morning which was about a three hour flight. As always and is my standard practice, I checked and drained sumps before my flight to pa and there was no water observed.

Only after I refilled in Pennsylvania did I start observing water in the fuel. Of course signature was of no help at all and keep wanting to say that it wasn’t their fuel. 3 hours later and after conducting multiple high speed taxis and extended run ups and making sure no more water was being sumped out, I finally took off and landed home at KASH in New Hampshire.

The only odd thing is that I only observed water in the outboard side of the right wing. All other sumps were not drawing any water.

Regards,
Jovin
N6024P

 

[Planecents]

Jovin. Just a question. Did you pump the right side first?

 

[jjovin]

Yes I believe signature did fill the right side first

 

[rgorman]

Rain getting in fuel cap?