FAA Trying to Track Aviators With Tainted Fuel

More than 1,000 Northern California small-plane pilots bought contaminated Chevron fuel last month, and officials were still trying to track down several dozen aviators.

The Federal Aviation Administration emphasized Wednesday that no crashes have been traced to the fuel, which was improperly mixed last month at Chevron’s Richmond refinery.

“As of right now, contaminated fuel is not suspected in any of the accidents that have occurred since May 16,” agency spokesman Hank Verbais said.

The company is tracking down purchasers through plane tail and credit card numbers recorded at airports where the fuel was delivered, he said.

On May 16, a leaky valve at the Richmond refinery allowed kerosene-based jet fuel to blend with low-lead gas used in propeller planes, Chevron Inc. spokesman Mike Libbey said.

The initial batch was about one-third jet fuel, but was sold for propeller planes at Sacramento’s Metro and Executive airports.

A much-less contaminated mix was also sent to Oakland, Petaluma, Watsonville and Buchanan Field in Concord. On May 31, a pilot reported engine roughness and the smell of kerosene, Libbey said.

The company investigated and notified the FAA the next day. The Sacramento tanks were emptied, but tanks at other airports were found to be within acceptable limits, Libbey said.

The danger arises from the reduced octane level, which can cause poor combustion and clog the engine, said Scott Erickson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.