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]] SAFETY The proper design and construction of a fuel tank plays a major role in the safety of the system it is a part of. In automotive applications, improper placement of the fuel tank has led to increased probability of , as one of these lawsuits resulted in a $101 million dollar judgement against GM (later overturned), the television show '' Dateline NBC '' created its own controversy by staging an example of the failures. When it was discovered that ''Dateline's'' consultants had rigged the truck with explosives in order to guarantee a fire, GM filed a defamation suit, and several NBC employees were fired. AIRCRAFT Aircraft typically use three types of fuel tanks: integral, rigid removable, and bladder. Integral tanks are areas inside the aircraft structure that have been sealed to allow fuel storage. An example of this type is the "wet wing" commonly used in larger aircraft. Since these tanks are part of the aircraft structure, they cannot be removed for service or inspection. Inspection panels must be provided to allow internal inspection, repair, and overall servicing of the tank. Most large transport aircraft use this system, storing fuel in the wings and/or tail of the airplane. Rigid removable tanks are installed in a compartment designed to accommodate the tank. They are typically of metal construction, and may be removed for inspection, replacement, or repair. The aircraft does not rely on the tank for structural integrity. These tanks are commonly found in smaller general aviation aircraft, such as the Cessna 172 . Bladder tanks are reinforced rubberized bags installed in a section of aircraft structure designed to accommodate the weight of the fuel. The bladder is rolled up and installed into the compartment through the fuel filler neck or access panel, and is secured by means of metal buttons or snaps inside the compartment. Many high-performance light aircraft and some smaller turboprops use bladder tanks. Fuel tanks have also been implicated in Aviation Disasters . For example, the official explanation for the explosion and subsequent crash of TWA Flight 800 is that an explosive fuel/air mixture was created in one of the aircraft's fuel tanks. Faulty wiring then provided an ignition source within the tank, destroying the airliner. While the accuracy of the official findings is still questioned in this case, similar explosions have occurred in other aircraft. |
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