Those Mother F*%$ers stole my fuel!

niss · Post by **niss** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:40 am

I had my entire left tank emptied by some fuel bandits a while back. I hope they either were in a real jam and needed it bad, or get vapour lock and crash.

That said does anyone know where I can find cap locks for a Cherokee 140?

Thanks,

Niss

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:54 am

Dude, that's FUCKED!

Who the @#$! would do that to a fellow aviator? Must have been some street racers who wanted some avgas. I can't IMAGINE a pilot doing this to another pilot's personal plane!

Sorry to hear the bad news, niss.

-istp

Dog · Post by **Dog** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:02 pm

Unleash Bob Sagget on thier a$$es!

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:16 pm

maybe it wasn't stolen.....

niss · Post by **niss** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:23 pm

Its a pretty shitty deal, not the first one to have it happen to. One of the other A/C down the way had 5gallons from each tank pulled and a few avscrews.

No ones seen any locks?

Miss Mae · Post by **Miss Mae** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:39 pm

niss wrote:I had my entire left tank emptied by some fuel bandits a while back.
Niss

That's a pretty crappy deal....where were you when it was stolen?

niss · Post by **niss** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:57 pm

At home.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:31 pm

Maybe they thought it would improve aviation safety? j/k ... sorry to hear that - hope you're running mogas. Claim the road tax back.

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:31 pm

that BS. I'm guessing that if it's happened to more than one aircraft at that airport then there's one local guy who's doing it. I suggest catching him, take him out back for a while, and then tell everyone who it was (post signs etc). Then the next guy to get that bright idea will hopefully think twice and you'll never need the fuel cap locks.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:38 pm

Fuel? I've called in The Haz..

niss' reply

-istp

mellow_pilot · Post by **mellow_pilot** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:48 pm

If you're running 100 LL, leave a gerry can of two stroke mix (the blue kind) near your plane. (half hide it under a tarp or something so it looks legit) When the mother feuls up, his ride (plane or not) will get one dirty-assed surprise.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:50 pm

Dude, that's brilliant!

-istp

N2 · Post by N2 » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:50 pm

Niss I had someone taking plugs out of my Cherokee a few years back. I installed a complete set of plugs and a few weeks later I had an old rusted plug in one of the cylinders. Again I removed that plug purchased another new one installed it and bam same shit again. I mentioned it to airport managementwho basically told me tuff shit. Security...what a joke.
If I ever catch the bastard who did this it's best to call the cops before I kill the SOB!

Wigwam Willie · Post by **Wigwam Willie** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:51 pm

Don't even think about pointing fingers here.

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:20 pm

He took way too much to sniff, Willie. You were probably ruled our immediately.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:50 pm

I worked at YTZ for a couple months and was told from the flight school not to let anyone out the door of the old "shell east" because people would get out from there and not walk over to the other side to pay. Apparently alot of people skipped there bill. lol always had the weekend flyers b*tching at me.

But yeah to take the fuel from your airplane is pretty balsy...and sad. When I flew the PA 140 when I first got checked out, my instructor always told me to open the caps and check inside because someone up north lost his engine because people were dipping rags in the tank and forgot to pull one out...anyone else heard of that?

flystraightin · Post by **flystraightin** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:24 pm

Someone was slitting tires at our airport a while back, the guy was caught and charged. Its sad to see some people sink so low...

niss · Post by **niss** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:09 pm

Is there anything financially protecting the owners from that? Does it become the airport managers responsiblity, if the guy is aprehended does he have to pay for it, does insurance cover it, does anyone know where I can find fuel cap locks?

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:35 pm

I think you may have to have them custom made....I know a guy I use to work for had some caps for one of our vehicles custom made...but I don't know where he got it done....or if anyone would make you a custom gas cap....

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:42 pm

Try these people
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ap/fuel_caps.html

They are expensive caps though...BUT I guess if your being rob'd numerous times they would soon pay for themselves...

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:49 pm

There's gotta be some kind of Crappy Tire mod you could do. Well, I could do. Not all of us work in a machine shop.

I'll tell you what, niss. You pm me some digital photos of the fuel cap, inlet etc. a whole bunch with a tape measure next to all of the photos, and I'll make you a locking cap. (If you can't find one from Piper.)

And that's an ISTP PROMISE. ( I don't give many of them out, you know.)

But now I remember... unfortunately TC and mechanics would probably disallow that, as ISTP is not certified. Well, I did take a vacation to St. Thomas once, but I never got the diploma....

-istp

rotorfloat · Post by **rotorfloat** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:54 pm

istp wrote:unfortunately TC and mechanics would probably disallow that

Negative. Homemade or Canadian Tire type locking fuel caps can be as un-airworthy as can be, as long as one does not try to fly with them in place.

Put your locking caps on for parking, and switch back to your manufacturer's caps prior to flight.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:37 pm

That would be a decent checklist item:

Locking fuel caps in map pocket- check.

Regular fuel caps on and longitudinal- check.

-istp

MUSICMAAN · Post by **MUSICMAAN** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:49 pm

One of my old customers had a set of Canindian tire locking fuel caps that he put on his Cessna tanks while it was sitting at the airport, he just switched them out for the A/C caps before he went flying. The same caps would fit Cherokee holes too... and there chrome too so it adds some BLING to your ride!!!

yak driver · Post by **yak driver** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:42 am

Why would you worry about locking gas caps when it's much easier to get the fuel out of the quick drain under the tank?? No mexican credit card required.

If you notice them stealing fuel on a semi regular basis, leave them a couple gallons of water. Watch to see who crashes or has a car stuck at the side of the road, then you have a bettter idea as to who needs to get their clock cleaned.

Those Mother F*%$ers stole my fuel!

Those Mother F*%$ers stole my fuel!

Re: Those Mother F*%$ers stole my fuel!