Would you go?

[Dan Luke]

You have to take off at dawn to pick up an Angel Flight patient 200
miles away, so you call the FBO the night before to have the airplane
pulled out and fueled.

When you arrive at the airport, you find the fuel truck parked in front
of the airplane, blocking it. The FBO is locked up and no one's around.
Checking the gauges reveals that fuel has been added. You call the
FBO's number, but all you can do is leave a message on the answering
machine asking what's going on.

It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is the
fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about the
plane that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill?
What???

In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Jay Honeck]

> It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
> away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is the
> fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about the plane
> that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill? What???
>
> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
> did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?

I would assume that the line-guy brain farted and forgot to move the truck
after fueling.

I would have departed, same as you.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dan Luke]

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
> I would assume that the line-guy brain farted and forgot to move the
> truck after fueling.

It would have been a quarter-mile walk back to the FBO.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Nathan Young]

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 07:31:42 -0500, "Dan Luke"
> wrote:

>You have to take off at dawn to pick up an Angel Flight patient 200
>miles away, so you call the FBO the night before to have the airplane
>pulled out and fueled.
>
>When you arrive at the airport, you find the fuel truck parked in front
>of the airplane, blocking it. The FBO is locked up and no one's around.
>Checking the gauges reveals that fuel has been added. You call the
>FBO's number, but all you can do is leave a message on the answering
>machine asking what's going on.
>
>It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
>away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is the
>fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about the
>plane that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill?
>What???
>
>In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
>did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?

Based upon a successful preflight, I would have went, but I would have
tried harder to track down the FBO's manager or owner to ask WTF?

[Dan Thompson]

Since there are a thousand more clear ways to communicate that there is
something wrong with the plane or fuel, I would assume the truck's placement
was the result of something else and make the flight.


"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
> You have to take off at dawn to pick up an Angel Flight patient 200 miles
> away, so you call the FBO the night before to have the airplane pulled out
> and fueled.
>
> When you arrive at the airport, you find the fuel truck parked in front of
> the airplane, blocking it. The FBO is locked up and no one's around.
> Checking the gauges reveals that fuel has been added. You call the FBO's
> number, but all you can do is leave a message on the answering machine
> asking what's going on.
>
> It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
> away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is the
> fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about the plane
> that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill? What???
>
> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
> did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
>

[Blueskies]

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message ...
>
> "Jay Honeck" wrote:
>> I would assume that the line-guy brain farted and forgot to move the truck after fueling.
>
> It would have been a quarter-mile walk back to the FBO.
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
>

Truck broke?

[Dan Luke]

> Truck broke?
>

Yep: starter busted.

[Dan Luke]

"Dan Thompson" wrote:
> Since there are a thousand more clear ways to communicate that there
> is something wrong with the plane or fuel, I would assume the truck's
> placement was the result of something else and make the flight.

That was my guess, that they probably would have at least left a note.
But that's assuming good sense on the part of the late shift line guy, a
very shaky assumption at best.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Andrew Gideon]

Dan Luke wrote:


> That was my guess, that they probably would have at least left a note.
> But that's assuming good sense on the part of the late shift line guy, a
> very shaky assumption at best.

Considering where he left the broken truck, he appears to be making your
point for you.

- Andrew

[Andrew Sarangan]

There are much more obvious ways to ground an airplane than to park a
truck in front of it. They could have telephoned you, or left you a
note. In our club, we ground an airplane by tying a rag on the prop,
writing a note in the aircraft tachsheet, and calling the crew chief for
that aircraft. Parking a car in front of the hanger is only going to
**** someone off.




"Dan Luke" > wrote in
:

> You have to take off at dawn to pick up an Angel Flight patient 200
> miles away, so you call the FBO the night before to have the airplane
> pulled out and fueled.
>
> When you arrive at the airport, you find the fuel truck parked in
> front of the airplane, blocking it. The FBO is locked up and no one's
> around. Checking the gauges reveals that fuel has been added. You
> call the FBO's number, but all you can do is leave a message on the
> answering machine asking what's going on.
>
> It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
> away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is
> the fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about
> the plane that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill?
> What???
>
> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel
> samples, did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would
> you have?

[George Patterson]

Dan Luke wrote:
>>Truck broke?
>
> Yep: starter busted.

Interesting. The trucks with which I'm familiar use a PTO to run the pump. They
never shut the engine off when fueling.

George Patterson
Whosoever bloweth not his own horn, the same shall remain unblown.

[Dan Luke]

"George Patterson" wrote:

>>>Truck broke?
>>
>> Yep: starter busted.
>
> Interesting. The trucks with which I'm familiar use a PTO to run the
> pump. They never shut the engine off when fueling.
>

Hmm...that's right. I dunno George, that's what the lady at the FBO
said.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Dan Luke]

"Andrew Gideon" wrote:

>> That was my guess, that they probably would have at least left a
>> note.
>> But that's assuming good sense on the part of the late shift line
>> guy, a
>> very shaky assumption at best.
>
> Considering where he left the broken truck, he appears to be making
> your
> point for you.

That's what bothered me: they have a tug big enough to pull a 737, so
why just leave the truck sitting there unless there was another reason?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Stephen McNaught]

Do you hear anything rattleing in the the fuel tank, like a mini
maglite? - Steve

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Andrew Gideon" wrote:
>
> >> That was my guess, that they probably would have at least left a
> >> note.
> >> But that's assuming good sense on the part of the late shift line
> >> guy, a
> >> very shaky assumption at best.
> >
> > Considering where he left the broken truck, he appears to be making
> > your
> > point for you.
>
> That's what bothered me: they have a tug big enough to pull a 737, so
> why just leave the truck sitting there unless there was another reason?
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
>
>

[Andrew Gideon]

Stephen McNaught wrote:

> DoÂ*youÂ*hearÂ*anythingÂ*rattleingÂ*inÂ*theÂ*theÂ* fuelÂ*tank,Â*likeÂ*aÂ*mini
> maglite? - Steve

No joke. One of our annuals found a flashlight in a wing. Not a fuel tank;
the wing itself. It could only have been left by someone doing
maintenance...or a prior annual.

It makes me wish tools were id coded. But that would be Yet Another Price
Increase for GA maintenance.

- Andrew

[Hilton]

Dan Luke wrote:
[zap]
> It's time to go; you could push the plane away from the truck and taxi
> away, but now you're wondering: did they block it for a reason? Is the
> fuel contaminated? Did someone notice something dangerous about the
> plane that you don't see? Did you forget to pay your fuel bill?
> What???
>
> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
> did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?

I would have done the same as you.

My suggestion for the day: Always preflight as though you found the truck
blocking your plane, and always fly like you have the DE sitting next to
you.

Hilton

[BTIZ]

I'd complain to the FBO about the "hassles" and be glad that you could push
back and get away..
good thing it was not a 12,000# King Air.

BT

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
>
> "George Patterson" wrote:
>
>>>>Truck broke?
>>>
>>> Yep: starter busted.
>>
>> Interesting. The trucks with which I'm familiar use a PTO to run the
>> pump. They never shut the engine off when fueling.
>>
>
> Hmm...that's right. I dunno George, that's what the lady at the FBO said.
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
>

[C J Campbell]

I would not have even thought about it like that. I would have flown and
then, if it still bothered me, complained to the FBO when I got back.

[Bob Fry]

"Dan Luke" > writes:

> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel samples,
> did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you have?

Yes. Line-guys are not studying Rocket Science for a reason.

[Grumman-581]

"BTIZ" wrote in message news:1Z_3e.3181$ZV5.821@fed1read05...
> I'd complain to the FBO about the "hassles" and be glad that you could
push
> back and get away..
> good thing it was not a 12,000# King Air.

Throw a chain around the nose gear and tow it out of the way... I'm got a
Hemi...

[kage]

You can back a King Air with reverse thrust.

BTDT
Karl

"Grumman-581" > wrote in message
news:ow24e.133532$r55.14562@attbi_s52...
> "BTIZ" wrote in message news:1Z_3e.3181$ZV5.821@fed1read05...
>> I'd complain to the FBO about the "hassles" and be glad that you could
> push
>> back and get away..
>> good thing it was not a 12,000# King Air.
>
> Throw a chain around the nose gear and tow it out of the way... I'm got a
> Hemi...
>
>

[Grumman-581]

"kage" > wrote in message
...
> You can back a King Air with reverse thrust.

I had interpreted it as they had parked a King Air in front of your plane...
Depending upon where you park, pushing your plane backwards might not be an
option...

[Morgans]

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:1Z_3e.3181$ZV5.821@fed1read05...
> I'd complain to the FBO about the "hassles" and be glad that you could
push
> back and get away..
> good thing it was not a 12,000# King Air.

That's not so bad. At the Hickory airshow a few years back, we had to move
a DC-3, so the Connie could leave, and they didn't have anything handy to
move it. We got some Explorers, and pushed it out of the way, with the
tailwheel in the grass, even!

Not something I would want to do on a regular basis! <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Dan Luke]

The truck's still sitting in front of my airplane this morning (Monday).

According to a different FBO lady this morning, the brakes are locked
(emergency brake?), which is why they couldn't move it.

Much is explained, except why they couldn't have called me to let me know
what the problem was when it happened.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

[Michael]

Dan Luke wrote:
> In the event, I did an extra careful preflight, took large fuel
samples,
> did an extended run-up and took off with no problems. Would you
have?

I would have done the same as you. I would have made it a point to
monitor CHT's and EGT's on taxi and runup (I know what normal is for my
plane, and fuel cintaminated with jet-A will not yield normal operating
temperatures) and I would hav done a full-powe runup on the threshold
for a few seconds, again monitoring CHT and EGT. My logic here is that
I would catch water contamination by drainign a sample, but hydrocarbon
contamination is trickier.

Having said that - I would take off knowing that if something did
happen, and they had indeed parked the truck there to keep me from
taking off, the accident would be called pilot error and the monday
morning quarterbacks would blame me for launching when something was
obviously not right.

Michael

[Andrew Gideon]

Dan Luke wrote:

> The truck's still sitting in front of my airplane this morning (Monday).
>
> According to a different FBO lady this morning, the brakes are locked
> (emergency brake?), which is why they couldn't move it.
>
> Much is explained, except why they couldn't have called me to let me know
> what the problem was when it happened.

Have you ever seen a parking lot handle a car left w/o the keys? There are
these doohickeys which they put under each of the wheels. When "closed" or
"activated", they actually raise each wheel off the ground. At that point,
the car can be easily moved.

Obviously, a fuel truck is heavier than a car. But *someone* should be able
to tow the thing even with locked brakes.

- Andrew

[Grumman-581]

The problem is not one of someone having an engine strong enough to
move the truck, but rather that person getting enough traction to be
able to do it... If the truck only had the rear brakes locked, it
*might* be possible to drag it out of the way with a 4WD pickup in
4WD-low gear... If you get some water on the pavement under the fuel
truck's tires, it might help if you can manage to transition from
static to sliding friction on the locked tires while maintaining static
friction on your pickup's tires... Moving a heavier vehicle with a
lighter vehicle takes more than a powerful engine... If you don't have
better traction, all you do is spin your wheels... If you've got
traction and a low enough gear, you can move anything regardless of
your weight...

[Andrew Gideon]

Grumman-581 wrote:

> If the truck only had the rear brakes locked, it
> might be possible to drag it out of the way with a 4WD pickup in
> 4WD-low gear

The device to which I refer reduces the traction of the stuck vehicle by
getting its wheels off the ground. That leaves the vehicle on the wheels
of the device, and they are not locked.

I've only seen this used on automobiles, but I'm sure there's an analog for
trucks.

- Andrew

[Grumman-581]

I understand what you're talking about Andrew.. .I'm just pointing out
the problems if you don't have such a device...

[Andrew Gideon]

Grumman-581 wrote:

> nderstand what you're talking about Andrew.. .I'm just pointing out
> the problems if you don't have such a device...

Ah. Sorry; I thought I wasn't being clear.

- Andrew