Warning Issued on Contaminated Jet Fuel

Two Cessna Citation 550 series jets were affected in the latest DEF contamination incident. Wikipedia/Public Domain

A series of recent events involving the mixing of an incorrect additive into jet fuel dispensed at a Florida airport has triggered safety warnings to both turbine operators and fuel handlers.

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is a colorless fluid derived from urea and is injected into the exhaust on diesel-burning vehicles, but is not approved for use in aircraft because of its propensity to form crystals that can clog filters and other components within aircraft fuel systems. It can be mistaken for a common icing inhibitor that is also added to Jet-A, hence the caution advised.

Because the pilot cannot check for contamination during preflight, the problem must be addressed earlier in the process. Courtesy Kirby Ortega

Two incidences of DEF contamination took place in November 2017, in Omaha, Nebraska, and in August 2018, in Opa Locka, Florida. The most recent contamination event occurred on May 9 at the Punta Gorda, Florida, airport, when DEF was mistakenly added to fuel in a fuel truck. Two Citation 550s operated by charter company Air Trek were serviced with the contaminated fuel. One, enroute from Naples to Niagara Falls, New York, suffered an engine flameout, followed by a second engine failure, and diverted successfully to Savannah, Georgia. The second, enroute to Chicago, had a single engine failure, and landed safely in Louisville, Kentucky.

The dramatic events highlight the seriousness of the issue. AOPA's Air Safety Institute has issued a bulletin to accompany the FAA's Safety Alert For Operators 18015 advising fuelers to put procedures into place to mitigate the likelihood of introducing DEF into aircraft fuel. Because the presence of DEF in fuel is impossible to detect during a preflight inspection, the situation must be addressed prior to fueling.

Based in Maryland, Julie is an editor, aviation educator, and author. She holds an airline transport pilot certificate with Douglas DC-3 and CE510 (Citation Mustang) type ratings. She's a CFI/CFII since 1993, specializing in advanced aircraft and flight instructor development. Follow Julie on Twitter @julieinthesky.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter
By entering your email, you agree to receive communications from FlyingMag.