PILOT REPORTS USE OF AUTO FUEL WITH UNDISCLOSED ETHANOL CONTENT IN VIOLATION OF PETERSEN STC.

Date: 2008-07 · Aircraft: Cessna 180 Skywagon

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown

Synopsis

PILOT REPORTS USE OF AUTO FUEL WITH UNDISCLOSED ETHANOL CONTENT IN VIOLATION OF PETERSEN STC.

Narrative

I RUN AUTO-FUEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PETERSEN STC IN MY O-470. IT PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS; AND LESS LEAD BUILDUP ON THE PLUGS. I HAVE PURCHASED THE FUEL AT VARIOUS RETAIL OUTLETS; ALWAYS TAKING CARE TO ENSURE THE PRODUCT IS 'GASOLINE;' WITHOUT A STICKER DENOTING THE ADDITION OF ETHANOL. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME; KANSAS ADMINISTRATIVE REG 99-25-10 PASSED A COUPLE YRS AGO; WHICH ALLOWS FUEL RETAILERS TO NOT POST OR DISPLAY THE ADDITION OF UP TO 10% ETHANOL TO GASOLINE. THE FUEL I PURCHASED LIKELY HAD ETHANOL ADDED; IN VIOLATION OF THE STC APPROVAL. IN ADDITION TO BEING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS; NOT PLACARDING THE PUMPS FOR THE PRODUCT PROVIDED IS SIMPLY DECEIVING. 'UNLEADED GASOLINE' IN KS IS USUALLY WHAT USED TO BE CALLED 'GASOHOL.' REGARDLESS ONE'S POLITICAL FEELINGS TOWARDS ETHANOL; THE MIXED GAS HAS FEWER BTU'S THAN NON-OXYGENATED FUEL PER GALLON. IRONICALLY; I NOW PURCHASE MY FUEL AT THE LCL FARMERS' CO-OP; WHICH HAS A SEPARATE PUMP FOR 'GASOHOL' AND 'GASOLINE.' ALSO; I AM CAREFUL TO TEST FOR ETHANOL WITH THE GRADUATED CYLINDER/WATER METHOD. THE FAA SHOULD UNITE WITH CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO ELIMINATE THE DECEPTIVE SALE OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.