37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 886077 |
Time | |
Date | 201004 |
Environment | |
Light | Night |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | MBB-BK 117 All Series |
Flight Phase | Takeoff |
Component | |
Aircraft Component | Fuel Tank Cap |
Person 1 | |
Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial |
Events | |
Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
After departing refuel/dispatch base; dispatch contacted pilot of fuel smell after helicopter departure. Helicopter landed at home base 2 minutes later and the pilot found that the fuel cap had not been seated properly and the pressurized fuel was escaping. Ten gallons of fuel was lost during the repositioning. Aircraft was taken out of service while maintenance was contacted and pressure checked to verify that no seals were damaged during the venting. Don't become complacent with mundane operations. Carry adequate lighting to verify even simple tasks; especially if the current lighting at the refuel pads are not being maintained.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Helicopter pilot was informed of fuel smell after departing the refueling pad. Pilot landed two minutes later to discover the fuel cap had been improperly installed.
Narrative: After departing refuel/dispatch base; Dispatch contacted pilot of fuel smell after helicopter departure. Helicopter landed at home base 2 minutes later and the pilot found that the fuel cap had not been seated properly and the pressurized fuel was escaping. Ten gallons of fuel was lost during the repositioning. Aircraft was taken out of service while maintenance was contacted and pressure checked to verify that no seals were damaged during the venting. Don't become complacent with mundane operations. Carry adequate lighting to verify even simple tasks; especially if the current lighting at the refuel pads are not being maintained.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.