Narrative:

I was PIC of a commuter carrier flight psp-las. On the ground while servicing the aircraft we asked ramp personnel to service the awi system by filling the tank with alcohol-water. After departure and during climbout a passenger came up to the cockpit and said there was water running down the right side of the aircraft about the same time departure told us that company wanted us to call them. I knew they had forgotten to replace the cap on the tank. We returned to the airport. We had company refill the tank and replace the cap. When we taxied back out ATC had cancelled our flight plan so we had to refile. This situation is not covered in any of the manufacturers data about the aircraft. It is not addressed in the MEL for the light transport. I did not feel it was a critical to flight situation since the awi system can only be used for takeoff. Since it was not covered in training nor in the afm, I decided it was prudent to return and correct the situation. Apparently this situation occurs frequently. I have been told that in some instances the cap has fallen off in flight. I think the manufacturer should address this problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW RETURNS FOR PRECAUTIONARY LNDG UPON DISCOVERING LEAKING ALCOHOL WATER INJECTION FLUID FILLER CAP.

Narrative: I WAS PIC OF A COMMUTER CARRIER FLT PSP-LAS. ON THE GND WHILE SERVICING THE ACFT WE ASKED RAMP PERSONNEL TO SERVICE THE AWI SYSTEM BY FILLING THE TANK WITH ALCOHOL-WATER. AFTER DEP AND DURING CLIMBOUT A PAX CAME UP TO THE COCKPIT AND SAID THERE WAS WATER RUNNING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACFT ABOUT THE SAME TIME DEP TOLD US THAT COMPANY WANTED US TO CALL THEM. I KNEW THEY HAD FORGOTTEN TO REPLACE THE CAP ON THE TANK. WE RETURNED TO THE ARPT. WE HAD COMPANY REFILL THE TANK AND REPLACE THE CAP. WHEN WE TAXIED BACK OUT ATC HAD CANCELLED OUR FLT PLAN SO WE HAD TO REFILE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT COVERED IN ANY OF THE MANUFACTURERS DATA ABOUT THE ACFT. IT IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE MEL FOR THE LTT. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS A CRITICAL TO FLT SITUATION SINCE THE AWI SYSTEM CAN ONLY BE USED FOR TKOF. SINCE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN TRAINING NOR IN THE AFM, I DECIDED IT WAS PRUDENT TO RETURN AND CORRECT THE SITUATION. APPARENTLY THIS SITUATION OCCURS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IN SOME INSTANCES THE CAP HAS FALLEN OFF IN FLT. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.