FED: Mass aircraft grounding may lead to legal action: body=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-1999
FED: Mass aircraft grounding may lead to legal action: body=2

CASA director of aviation safety Mick Toller said CASA had no estimate of likely costs
or how many aircraft would be affected.

He said the problem could have resulted in engine failure on a number of aircraft over
the next few weeks.

"Obviously there is a lot of maintenance going to be required that would not otherwise
have had to be done," he told reporters in Canberra.

"They (pilots) need to inspect the fuel system. For most there won't be a problem.

If there is a slight amount of this black residue on the fuel filter, we are recommending
that people clean the filter and be aware that they have potentially problem fuel and
keep checking after every flight.

"If there is a heavy deposit, maintenance action has to be taken. That maintenance
will be to clean the whole fuel system right to the place where it goes in.

"As long as before every flight the fuel system is cleaned, and if there is only very
light residue this means washing it - this residue is soluble in water - there is very
little risk."

AAP mb/it

KEYWORD: AVIATION (REPEATING)

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