In flight fires

[jonbakerok]

That Ravin was running a recently installed Corvette conversion, complete with high-pressure automotive fuel injection.

Maybe it's just coincidence, but it seems like every time I hear about a crash caused by an in-flight fire, it's an auto conversion and fuel injection. That was true of the one Kitfox fire and crash that I'm aware of, which had a way-too-big Subaru installed up front. And there was also an RV6 with a Chevy V6 conversion in Oklahoma that I remember from about 8 years ago. And Bud's previous crash four years ago was another Corvette conversion.

I don't mean to diminish the issue. Frankly, the Kitfox fuel system has always worried me, and I'm plumbed most of my cockpit in aluminum for that very reason. But since most of us are running a carb with gravity feed, at least if something breaks we won't be pumping fuel on a hot engine at 35 PSI!

[Dave S]

Hi Jon,

When you say you have plumbed most of the cockpit with aluminum tubing - how much do you mean? What did you do with the wing root area so the wings can fold? I stuck with the rubber hoses from the wingtanks to header - then aluminum tubing from the header to the fuel valve; and, rubber again from the fuel valve to the firewall - that is per the plans spec. Curious how much of the rubber you were able to replace with aluminum tubing. Sounds like a really good idea.

I have an electric boost pump at the low spot in the system; but, it stays switched off during normal operation.

Sincerely,

Dave S
KF7 Trigear
912ULS Warp

[rogerh12]

My car caught fire one day driving home. Yes, it had fuel injection. The fuel rail leaked on the spark plug, didn't take long to roast my supra.
I firmly believe there should be NOTHING burnable under the hood. That means no plastic or vynal covered wires, just metal and sicone sheets, tubing, spark plug wires... everything !!!! (inside the plane, that's not a bad idea too.)

Roger

That Ravin was running a recently installed Corvette conversion, complete with high-pressure automotive fuel injection.

Maybe it's just coincidence, but it seems like every time I hear about a crash caused by an in-flight fire, it's an auto conversion and fuel injection. That was true of the one Kitfox fire and crash that I'm aware of, which had a way-too-big Subaru installed up front. And there was also an RV6 with a Chevy V6 conversion in Oklahoma that I remember from about 8 years ago. And Bud's previous crash four years ago was another Corvette conversion.

I don't mean to diminish the issue. Frankly, the Kitfox fuel system has always worried me, and I'm plumbed most of my cockpit in aluminum for that very reason. But since most of us are running a carb with gravity feed, at least if something breaks we won't be pumping fuel on a hot engine at 35 PSI!

[Jerrytex]

What kind of brought this up was not only the recent crashes but also I noticed on my firewall blanket, the gray covering has some some heat damage. This occurred before I got it and the engine only ran 17 hours so I want to make sure I do everything I can to prevent a fire. I too have all aluminum from the header tank to the aux pump and then all the way to the gascolator then firesleeved rubber hose to the fuel pump. I am concerned about the exhaust system and was thinking about maybe wrapping the exhaust pipes that are in close proximity to things that can melt i.e. firewall blanket covering, heater hoses, etc. with that exhaust wrap that you can buy for wrapping headers. Seem like this would keep the heat inside the pipes. I attached some pics of the damage that I am talking about.