Small transport departs with loose cap on pressurized tip tank. Return, land.

Attributes
ACN	142125
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mbt
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	142125
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Preflted aircraft, all was well. Checked fuel caps specifically (6 of them) because fellow that fueled aircraft the night before is less than responsible. I always pressurize tip tanks and check for fuel coming out. This day I didn't pressurize tanks because I had just visually checked the caps. Took off only to hear 2-3 people radio to me I was streaming fuel from left tip. Came around and landed. Secured cap and departed again. Lost about 10 gals maximum, most of which was on the ground. Some lost in the air. Check, but double-check. Always a first, embarrassed. Lesson to last a long time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT DEPARTS WITH LOOSE CAP ON PRESSURIZED TIP TANK. RETURN, LAND.

Narrative: PREFLTED ACFT, ALL WAS WELL. CHKED FUEL CAPS SPECIFICALLY (6 OF THEM) BECAUSE FELLOW THAT FUELED ACFT THE NIGHT BEFORE IS LESS THAN RESPONSIBLE. I ALWAYS PRESSURIZE TIP TANKS AND CHK FOR FUEL COMING OUT. THIS DAY I DIDN'T PRESSURIZE TANKS BECAUSE I HAD JUST VISUALLY CHKED THE CAPS. TOOK OFF ONLY TO HEAR 2-3 PEOPLE RADIO TO ME I WAS STREAMING FUEL FROM LEFT TIP. CAME AROUND AND LANDED. SECURED CAP AND DEPARTED AGAIN. LOST ABOUT 10 GALS MAX, MOST OF WHICH WAS ON THE GND. SOME LOST IN THE AIR. CHK, BUT DOUBLE-CHK. ALWAYS A FIRST, EMBARRASSED. LESSON TO LAST A LONG TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.