A C206 developed a leak in the right wing fuel cell and so the pilot diverted to a nearby airport. A...

Attributes
ACN	948713
Time
Date	201105
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Tank
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 21000 Flight Crew Type 50
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 620 Flight Crew Type 100
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Enroute we encountered a fuel venting issue with the airplane's right tank. At that time; we decided to divert for safety reasons due to the fuel leaking. ATC gave us priority handling and informed us that fire trucks would meet us at the airplane upon arrival to the FBO as a preventive measure. An emergency was not declared. Upon securing the aircraft; the pilot called air traffic control to see if any written reports were requested. No written reports were required. The next day we called a mechanic to check the aircraft and they discovered that the right fuel tank bladder had a small rupture and had to be replaced. It was the airplane's original bladder from 1976. The pilots also asked for further inspections of the left tank's fuel bladder; engine and overall condition of the airplane. Additionally; the pilots requested a logbook review to ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. Recommendation: continued scrutiny of older fuel bladders during the annual inspection process to ensure the recognition and replacement of deteriorating bladders.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C206 developed a leak in the right wing fuel cell and so the pilot diverted to a nearby airport. A Mechanic found the 1976 factory installed fuel cell ruptured.

Narrative: Enroute we encountered a fuel venting issue with the airplane's right tank. At that time; we decided to divert for safety reasons due to the fuel leaking. ATC gave us priority handling and informed us that fire trucks would meet us at the airplane upon arrival to the FBO as a preventive measure. An emergency was not declared. Upon securing the aircraft; the pilot called air traffic control to see if any written reports were requested. No written reports were required. The next day we called a mechanic to check the aircraft and they discovered that the right fuel tank bladder had a small rupture and had to be replaced. It was the airplane's original bladder from 1976. The pilots also asked for further inspections of the left tank's fuel bladder; engine and overall condition of the airplane. Additionally; the pilots requested a logbook review to ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. Recommendation: Continued scrutiny of older fuel bladders during the annual inspection process to ensure the recognition and replacement of deteriorating bladders.

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.

A C206 developed a leak in the right wing fuel cell and so the pilot diverted to a nearby airport. A mechanic found the 1976 factory installed fuel cell ruptured.