Originally Posted by
FlyerJosh
I once thought this. Then I saw a demonstration with Jet A and water in a mason jar at FSI Wichita. Although water doesn't "fall out" as quickly as it does with 100LL, it does separate about as quickly as vegetable oil and water. Less than 5 min after shaking the jar, you could see a definable line of separation.
I agree, Jet A weights 6.7 lbs per gallon, 100LL weighs 5.8. Water weighs about 9 lbs per gallon. Jet A and 100LL are much closer in density than any fuel is to water. I will need to do this experiment myself but I am willing to bet pulling the airplane out or walking up the air stair would not disturb the water in the slightest. Refueling however most definitely would but probably would come out of solution much quicker than we think.
Beechcraft says drain the sumps before first flight each day.
NTSB Releases This Grim, Detailed History Of Fatal Flight That Killed Tom Dean, Mark Bixby & Jeff Berger & Two Others
The King Air that crashed at Long Beach may or may not have been caused by water in the fuel tank. One interesting note in this article is that witnesses heard some "popping" accompanied by white smoke puffs from the engines. This would be indicative of a power interruption and subsequent attempt for the autoignition in trying to relight the engines. It is suspected that water could have caused the power interruption. The accident airplane flew allot in the months before the crash and the pilot never drained the sumps. It was said that maintenance was in charge of that.