iscover
The failure to detect carbon monoxide gases entering the cockpit can have catastrophic results
Air Safety – The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
0 comment
Carbon Monoxide, The Enemy Within Your Cabin Heater
Since the Air Safety feature ‘Subtle Incapacitation’ (published in the March issue of Australian Aviation) was written, the report of the coronial inquiry into a fatal accident involving a Cessna 182 on a station property in outback South Australia in February 1994 has pointed to carbon monoxide poisoning as a likely contributory factor.
With winter now upon us, and cabin heaters in widespread use to make general aviation flights more comfortable, it is timely to look at this potential but insidious hazard in greater detail.
Carbon monoxide, a gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous matter, is contained in the smoke, fumes, and exhaust gases from stoves, furnaces, internal combustion engines, and indeed almost any process in which hydrocarbon fuels are burnt for power or heat production. The amount of carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases of a light aircraft engine varies with its operating conditions, but is generally proportional to the ratio of the fuel-air mixture being supplied to the engine. For example, a full rich mixture setting, as used for takeoff, produces about 8% by weight of carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases, while a typical cruising mixture setting will yield about 3%. Because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless, the presence of carbon monoxide is not easily detectable when mixed with air, and it is this factor that poses such a hazard when the gas contaminates the air being drawn into the cabin of an aircraft in flight.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
