Saturday, October 21, 2000

B-1 develops fuel leak at Dyess Reporter-News Staff Report

About 950 gallons of jet fuel leaked from a B-1B bomber parked at Dyess Air Force Base early Friday morning.

While technicians were installing software upgrades on the aircraft named BLethal Weapon,B jet fuel began pouring from the left wingBs fuel dump valve. The valve is believed to have failed and caused the leak, base officials said.

The valve was closed at the time and can only be opened in flight.

Maintenance crews scrambled to stop the leak and used containers to catch 900 gallons of the fuel, which will be reusable. About 30 to 50 gallons spilled onto the parking ramp.

Crews mopped fuel from the 10- by-50-foot area with rags. No fuel reached the drain, according to base fire department officials, who responded to the 5:20 a.m. emergency.

BIt was a situation that could have been bad, but turned out good because of the quick reaction of maintenance crews,B said 2nd Lt. Wes Ticer, a base spokesman.

A B-1 holds 33,600 gallons of jet fuel, which costs $1.30 per gallon, Ticer said.

http://www.texnews.com/1998/2000/local/leak1021.html

-- Doris (reaper@pacifier.com), October 23, 2000