Fueling Speculation: Sumping for Safety Still Critical to Preflight Checklist

Instructor recounts a flight where an emergency landing revealed the critical importance of meticulous preflight checks.

Nikita Gabdrakhmanov

Friday, September 26, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The investigation suggested it was a crew fault, with the FAA and maintenance personnel suggesting we hadn’t sumped the fuel to check for water. ...This was not true. [Image: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

An incorrect preflight fuel sumping procedure, performed after heavy rains, initially missed water contamination in the fuel system.
During takeoff, the aircraft's engine sputtered and lost power, prompting the assistant chief instructor to execute a successful emergency landing in a grassy area.
Post-landing, maintenance discovered significant water in the fuel strainer, suggesting it re-accumulated during flight due to the improper initial sumping order, underscoring the critical need for strict checklist adherence.

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The incident occurred in November 2023 during Florida’s hurricane season, a time known for storms and heavy rain that can last days or even weeks.

After a week of rain, our flight school resumed operations. As a Part 141 school, we follow comprehensive safety practices and procedures manual for how pilots must conduct preflight checks. These emphasize the importance of following checklists and carefully reviewing the aircraft’s POH.