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:

During a preflight check after heavy rains, an incorrect fuel sumping sequence (belly sump before wing tanks) led to seemingly clear fuel.
Mid-flight, the engine sputtered and lost power at 50 feet during takeoff due to water that had re-accumulated in the fuel system.
The crew performed a successful emergency landing on a grassy area, and the incident underscored the critical importance of meticulous adherence to preflight checklists and POH fuel sumping procedures.

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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.