aktango58
FRIEND
18AA
Hi All,
Been a while, so for those questioning, I am still alive, and back on my feet.
During Moose season I had the experience of being ground zero for a fuel fume explosion. Was taken on a direct flight from Haines to Seattle and the burn unit. Looking like there will be no lasting effects or scaring. I will limit my descriptions of the body damage, but I will say that they had 20 CC's of morphine in me to kill the pain; I strongly suggest others avoid the experience.
There have been quite a few discussions about fuel fumes and sparks, explosions, and how to/not to. I only offer my case study to others in hope that my experience stays unique.
It was moose season. Cold and calm. A group of six adults, three kids, one dog and many bundles of equipment were being loaded into two boats to go upriver to our cabins. I had most of the gear in my boat, an open 21 foot wooldridge with a 150 etec outboard and plywood floorboards. I have a 90 gallon tank in the back of the truck, and pumped the shore side tank full, spilling a bit out of the breather and filler neck before I got it shut off. My fuel vents were built to vent inside the hull of the skiff.
I was not allowing folks in the boat while fueling, even though it was an open skiff.
I changed the fuel hose to the far side tank, again spilling a bit as I inserted started fueling. Because I had a bit of fuel on the floor boards, and on top of the fuel tank, (aluminum), I grabbed a bucket and washed it back to the stern to try and keep the gear clean when it got shifted aft for the trip up river.
After washing the fuel back I had a build up of water with a bit of fuel sitting in the back. Knowing it would run forward as I went on step I wanted it out of the boat; I stood behind the steering station that is well aft, and turned on the bilge pump.
I saw the spark, knew I had made a dumb mistake, and most likely swore. The spark was not anywhere near the fuel/water. It was 8 inches off the floor, in the dry. Only fumes could have ignited. By swearing I was pushing air out of my lungs and windpipe, preventing any internal damage.
After the initial explosion I realized that I was surrounded by and on fire while still pumping fuel. Both tanks had fire on and around them. Helpless is the feeling. I did turn off the fuel pump, removed the hose from the tank and got it onto the beach before reaching for a fire extinguisher. The first one was dead. The second lasted maybe 10 seconds, and helped, but did not stop all of the fire.
We did have fortune that I was the only injury, and very little gear was damaged. The floorboards were actually lifted and gear tossed around, ending up overlapped. All the screws holding the steering station and tanks down were pushed out of the floor. Very little wiring was damaged, and the outboard mechanical is still pristine with only cosmetic damage.
I am giving detail to explain how little "fire" was actually present. It was a flash of explosion, burning my hands and face, and igniting my jacket. Had I not spilled any fuel I don't believe the outboard would have been damaged at all.
But the flash/explosion did damage. Stuff flew, I had second and third degree burns over 5% of my body. My cotton tee shirt prevented my chest and upper arms from being burned, I believe my hat, which was blown off, protected part of my head.
How many times do folks pump fuel into an open boat, and not recognize that the fumes can collect and be dangerous inside their boat.
Also, I am now a believer in LARGE fire extinguishers. The little one in your plane will last a few seconds, at least give time for a real one to show up, maybe?
Experience is a teacher. I am thankful I still live to learn.
Some might wish to tell me all of my mistakes on here. I understand. I made some. But please realize I have picked this apart more than you know. The lessons and changes in my boating will be: New tank vents outside the boat, larger fire extinguisher in boat and on truck tank, silicone sealed wiring in good shape for all wires below the gunnel, a battery kill switch will be in the off position for times I am pumping fuel, and not turned on until a sniff test is performed for vapors, truck fuel tank will NEVER be attached to the boat battery, No fueling with passengers (already a policy), notify folks with me where fire extinguishers are located.
By posting this I am hoping the results will be higher safety in all of our operations. My experience can be related to many aircraft experiences. Please take care.
George
Been a while, so for those questioning, I am still alive, and back on my feet.
During Moose season I had the experience of being ground zero for a fuel fume explosion. Was taken on a direct flight from Haines to Seattle and the burn unit. Looking like there will be no lasting effects or scaring. I will limit my descriptions of the body damage, but I will say that they had 20 CC's of morphine in me to kill the pain; I strongly suggest others avoid the experience.
There have been quite a few discussions about fuel fumes and sparks, explosions, and how to/not to. I only offer my case study to others in hope that my experience stays unique.
It was moose season. Cold and calm. A group of six adults, three kids, one dog and many bundles of equipment were being loaded into two boats to go upriver to our cabins. I had most of the gear in my boat, an open 21 foot wooldridge with a 150 etec outboard and plywood floorboards. I have a 90 gallon tank in the back of the truck, and pumped the shore side tank full, spilling a bit out of the breather and filler neck before I got it shut off. My fuel vents were built to vent inside the hull of the skiff.
I was not allowing folks in the boat while fueling, even though it was an open skiff.
I changed the fuel hose to the far side tank, again spilling a bit as I inserted started fueling. Because I had a bit of fuel on the floor boards, and on top of the fuel tank, (aluminum), I grabbed a bucket and washed it back to the stern to try and keep the gear clean when it got shifted aft for the trip up river.
After washing the fuel back I had a build up of water with a bit of fuel sitting in the back. Knowing it would run forward as I went on step I wanted it out of the boat; I stood behind the steering station that is well aft, and turned on the bilge pump.
I saw the spark, knew I had made a dumb mistake, and most likely swore. The spark was not anywhere near the fuel/water. It was 8 inches off the floor, in the dry. Only fumes could have ignited. By swearing I was pushing air out of my lungs and windpipe, preventing any internal damage.
After the initial explosion I realized that I was surrounded by and on fire while still pumping fuel. Both tanks had fire on and around them. Helpless is the feeling. I did turn off the fuel pump, removed the hose from the tank and got it onto the beach before reaching for a fire extinguisher. The first one was dead. The second lasted maybe 10 seconds, and helped, but did not stop all of the fire.
We did have fortune that I was the only injury, and very little gear was damaged. The floorboards were actually lifted and gear tossed around, ending up overlapped. All the screws holding the steering station and tanks down were pushed out of the floor. Very little wiring was damaged, and the outboard mechanical is still pristine with only cosmetic damage.
I am giving detail to explain how little "fire" was actually present. It was a flash of explosion, burning my hands and face, and igniting my jacket. Had I not spilled any fuel I don't believe the outboard would have been damaged at all.
But the flash/explosion did damage. Stuff flew, I had second and third degree burns over 5% of my body. My cotton tee shirt prevented my chest and upper arms from being burned, I believe my hat, which was blown off, protected part of my head.
How many times do folks pump fuel into an open boat, and not recognize that the fumes can collect and be dangerous inside their boat.
Also, I am now a believer in LARGE fire extinguishers. The little one in your plane will last a few seconds, at least give time for a real one to show up, maybe?
Experience is a teacher. I am thankful I still live to learn.
Some might wish to tell me all of my mistakes on here. I understand. I made some. But please realize I have picked this apart more than you know. The lessons and changes in my boating will be: New tank vents outside the boat, larger fire extinguisher in boat and on truck tank, silicone sealed wiring in good shape for all wires below the gunnel, a battery kill switch will be in the off position for times I am pumping fuel, and not turned on until a sniff test is performed for vapors, truck fuel tank will NEVER be attached to the boat battery, No fueling with passengers (already a policy), notify folks with me where fire extinguishers are located.
By posting this I am hoping the results will be higher safety in all of our operations. My experience can be related to many aircraft experiences. Please take care.
George