Pilot reports use of automatic fuel with undisclosed ethanol content in violation of petersen stc.

Attributes
ACN	797391
Time
Date	200807
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 180 Skywagon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	797391
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I run automatic-fuel in accordance with the petersen stc in my O-470. It provides a substantial savings; and less lead buildup on the plugs. I have purchased the fuel at various retail outlets; always taking care to ensure the product is 'gasoline;' without a sticker denoting the addition of ethanol. Unbeknownst to me; kansas administrative regulation 99-25-10 passed a couple yrs ago; which allows fuel retailers to not post or display the addition of up to 10% ethanol to gasoline. The fuel I purchased likely had ethanol added; in violation of the stc approval. In addition to being potentially dangerous; not placarding the pumps for the product provided is simply deceiving. 'Unleaded gasoline' in ks is usually what used to be called 'gasohol.' regardless one's political feelings towards ethanol; the mixed gas has fewer btu's than non-oxygenated fuel per gallon. Ironically; I now purchase my fuel at the local farmers' co-operation; which has a separate pump for 'gasohol' and 'gasoline.' also; I am careful to test for ethanol with the graduated cylinder/water method. The FAA should unite with consumer advocates to eliminate the deceptive sale of ethanol in gasoline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PILOT REPORTS USE OF AUTO FUEL WITH UNDISCLOSED ETHANOL CONTENT IN VIOLATION OF PETERSEN STC.

Narrative: I RUN AUTO-FUEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PETERSEN STC IN MY O-470. IT PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS; AND LESS LEAD BUILDUP ON THE PLUGS. I HAVE PURCHASED THE FUEL AT VARIOUS RETAIL OUTLETS; ALWAYS TAKING CARE TO ENSURE THE PRODUCT IS 'GASOLINE;' WITHOUT A STICKER DENOTING THE ADDITION OF ETHANOL. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME; KANSAS ADMINISTRATIVE REG 99-25-10 PASSED A COUPLE YRS AGO; WHICH ALLOWS FUEL RETAILERS TO NOT POST OR DISPLAY THE ADDITION OF UP TO 10% ETHANOL TO GASOLINE. THE FUEL I PURCHASED LIKELY HAD ETHANOL ADDED; IN VIOLATION OF THE STC APPROVAL. IN ADDITION TO BEING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS; NOT PLACARDING THE PUMPS FOR THE PRODUCT PROVIDED IS SIMPLY DECEIVING. 'UNLEADED GASOLINE' IN KS IS USUALLY WHAT USED TO BE CALLED 'GASOHOL.' REGARDLESS ONE'S POLITICAL FEELINGS TOWARDS ETHANOL; THE MIXED GAS HAS FEWER BTU'S THAN NON-OXYGENATED FUEL PER GALLON. IRONICALLY; I NOW PURCHASE MY FUEL AT THE LCL FARMERS' CO-OP; WHICH HAS A SEPARATE PUMP FOR 'GASOHOL' AND 'GASOLINE.' ALSO; I AM CAREFUL TO TEST FOR ETHANOL WITH THE GRADUATED CYLINDER/WATER METHOD. THE FAA SHOULD UNITE WITH CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO ELIMINATE THE DECEPTIVE SALE OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.