Bacteria cause of malfunctioning fuel gauges

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 03 Mar 2006, 18:31

American Airlines MD-80 pilots lately reported some problems with the aircrafts fuel gauges. The gauges on some of the carriers 327 MD-80s report more fuel then actually present. The cause would be bacteria that are colonising the fuel sensors.

Boeing, American and the FAA are investigating the problem. So far they have not found the cause.

SOURCE: Flight International

Knight255 · Post by **Knight255** » 03 Mar 2006, 21:14

This is not all that uncommon in most fuel gauges. The age of their MD-80 fleet could have something to do with it. I heard they were considering using some additives in the fuel to counteract the problem. But, nothing has been done so far to my knowledge.

MX727 · Post by **MX727** » 04 Mar 2006, 00:28

mmmm......¿could we coat the sensors with some kind of preservative in the coating? For the food industry there is a paint developed in the UK for food plants that was designed precisely to avoid bacteria and mold growth. Maybe its possible to something like that with the sensors, who knows.....¿?
Regards,
JAHC