Regan Brown
The Cessna 310 is a complicated aircraft that requires proper training and due diligence to fly. Its fuel system is particularly complex, with several idiosyncrasies that pilots must manage. For instance, the main tanks are located on the wingtips, and the overflow from the fuel divider is pumped back into the mains. While the Cessna 310 is not unduly prone to fuel mismanagement accidents, pilots must be vigilant about checking fuel levels and managing the transfer of fuel between tanks. Additionally, the Cessna 310's fuel tanks are susceptible to water contamination, which can lead to engine failure. Therefore, it is crucial for pilots and maintenance personnel to regularly inspect and drain the fuel tanks, ensuring they are equipped with proper fuel filler caps to prevent water ingress.
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What You'll Learn
Cessna 310 fuel system management
The Cessna 310 is a complicated aircraft with a fuel system that requires careful management. The fuel system has several idiosyncrasies and is relatively complex compared to other piston twins. The main tanks are the tip tanks, and the plane takes off, lands, and cruises on these tanks. The wing aux tanks became available in 1958, and most planes were equipped with them. They have since increased in capacity over the years.
The pilot should wait until there are 180 pounds or less in the mains before pumping from the locker tanks. The aux tanks feed directly to their respective engines, and the only pump serving them is engine-driven. If the pump or engine fails, the aux tank on that side will hold 30 gallons of dead weight, with no crossfeed to the opposite engine. The big tip tanks were originally designed as a safety feature to get fuel as far from the cabin as possible.
The Cessna 310 has several failure modes, and pilots can experience fuel starvation with many gallons left onboard. For example, nacelle tank pumps can freeze up and lose prime, and if an engine is lost with fuel in the wing tanks, the fuel on that side becomes unusable. Pilots should prime the pumps on the ground if they plan to use them. Additionally, forgetting to switch back to the mains can cause temporary engine failure, and transfer pumps can freeze if not primed on the ground.
The fuel management process for the Cessna 310 involves careful coordination between the main and auxiliary tanks. The auxiliary pump is used to prime the engine for starting or to provide fuel pressure if the engine-driven fuel pump fails. It is turned on from the cockpit. The transfer pump is located on the aft side of the main fuel tank bulkhead and is responsible for transferring fuel from the nose section of the main tank to the center section. This pump is operational whenever the master switch is on and helps ensure fuel availability during steep descents or when fuel quantity is low.
Overall, while the Cessna 310 fuel system is complex and requires management, pilots have relatively little trouble dealing with it, and it is not unduly prone to fuel mismanagement accidents.
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Cessna 310 fuel tank capacity
The Cessna 310 is a four-to-six-seat, low-wing, twin-engine monoplane produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It has a complicated fuel system that requires management and has several idiosyncrasies. The main tanks are the tip tanks, which are located at the ends of the wings and were designed to improve stability in flight. These tanks hold 50 gallons of fuel each.
Early 310s had "Tuna Tanks", which got their nickname from their fish-like profile. Starting with the 1962 310G, Cessna introduced the modern "Stabila-Tip" tanks, which were canted wingtip fuel tanks. Wing aux tanks became available in 1958 and held 30 gallons from 1958-1966, then 40 gallons from 1967-1972, and 40 or 63 gallons from 1973 onwards. The aux tanks feed directly to their respective engines, but any overflow is pumped back into the mains. Therefore, the initial part of the flight must be on the mains (60-90 minutes, depending on the size of the aux tanks) to make room in the main/tip tanks.
The locker-tank scheme is another aspect of the Cessna 310's fuel system. Most airplanes have just one locker tank, and the fuel in these tanks cannot be consumed directly by the engines. Instead, the locker fuel must be pumped into the corresponding main tank. The pilot should wait until there are 180 pounds or less in the mains before pumping from the locker tanks.
The fully equipped Cessna 310 can have up to 10 fuel drain points and eight fuel pumps. The fuel system consists of two main tanks, two optional auxiliary tanks, and two optional wing locker tanks. The total fuel capacity of the Cessna 310 can vary depending on the model and the number of optional tanks installed. For example, the 310R can have up to 203 gallons of fuel, while the maximum tankage of the long-nose variety produced from 1975-1980 is around 1200 pounds of fuel.
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Cessna 310 fuel transfer pump
The Cessna 310 is a complicated aircraft with a fuel system that requires management. The Cessna 310's fuel system has several idiosyncrasies, including the location of the main tanks and the various optional tanks available. The main tanks of the Cessna 310 are the tip tanks, which are located on the wings. Early models of the Cessna 310 only had 50-gallon-per-side tip tanks, with no tanks in the wings.
Over time, the Cessna 310 evolved to include additional fuel tank options, such as wing-mounted bladders and tanks in the wing lockers. The fuel system on a fully equipped Cessna 310 with wing locker tanks can have up to 10 fuel drain points and eight fuel pumps. The fuel can be fed to the engines from either the main or auxiliary (aux) tanks, but not from the wing locker tanks.
The Cessna 310 fuel system includes a transfer pump that is turned on when the master switch is on. This pump transfers fuel from the nose section of the main tank to the centre section, ensuring fuel availability during low fuel quantities and steep descents. The transfer pump is located on the aft side of the main fuel tank bulkhead and makes a noticeable clicking sound when turned on.
The Cessna 310 also has an auxiliary pump, which is used to prime the engine for starting or to provide fuel pressure if the engine-driven fuel pump fails. This pump is also turned on from the cockpit. In addition to these pumps, the Cessna 310 may have re-circulation pumps to prevent unporting during descent by moving fuel from one end of the tank to the other at low fuel levels.
The Cessna 310's fuel system requires careful management to avoid issues such as fuel starvation and temporary engine failure. Pilots need to pay attention to fuel levels and switch between tanks accordingly during the flight. Overall, while the Cessna 310's fuel system is complex, pilots seem to manage it effectively, and the aircraft is not particularly prone to fuel mismanagement accidents.
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Cessna 310 fuel tank maintenance
Cessna 310 aircraft are complicated machines with demanding maintenance and operational requirements. The fuel system is particularly complex and idiosyncratic, with several failure modes that can lead to fuel starvation even with many gallons left on board.
The Cessna 310's full-fuel payload varies depending on the model, equipment, and fuel tank arrangement. Total usable fuel capacity can range from 100 to 203 gallons, or 600 to 1218 pounds of fuel. The early models of the Cessna 310 only had 50-gallon-per-side tip tanks as the main tanks, with no tanks in the wings. As horsepower demands increased over time, so did the need for fuel. This led to the introduction of 20-gallon wing-mounted bladders, followed by an additional 11.5-gallon bladder, resulting in 31.5 gallons in each wing. Later models also included 20-gallon tanks in the wing lockers, bringing the total fuel capacity to 203 gallons in the 310R variant.
The maintenance and operation of the Cessna 310's fuel system require careful management. The aircraft may have up to 10 fuel drain points and eight fuel pumps, with a complex plumbing system connecting them. The fuel system nomenclature can be confusing, as the main tanks are not located in the wings as in other aircraft. The tip tanks, which are the main tanks, are used for takeoff, landing, and the first hour of flight. During cruise, the aircraft switches to the auxiliary tanks, and fuel is transferred back to the tip tanks. It is important to note that the auxiliary tanks feed directly to their respective engines, and in the event of a pump or engine failure, the aux tank on that side could hold 30 gallons of dead weight, with no crossfeed to the opposite engine.
To ensure safe operation and maintain the fuel system effectively, pilots and maintenance crews should refer to the aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) and follow the procedures outlined therein. Proper fuel management is critical to the safe operation of the Cessna 310, and it is the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that the aircraft has sufficient fuel and that it is properly distributed across the various tanks.
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Cessna 310 fuel tank water contamination
The Cessna 310 is a complicated aircraft with a fuel system that requires management. The main tanks are the tip tanks, and the maximum tankage is about 1200 pounds of fuel. The Cessna 310 is not unduly prone to fuel mismanagement accidents, and pilots seem to have little trouble dealing with the system.
However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning about hazards associated with water contamination of fuel tank systems in Cessna Model 100, 200, or 300 series aircraft. Pilots should assume that some water exists in the fuel tank system. Water may enter the fuel tank system through any penetration in the wing fuel tank. Water in the fuel may settle and make its way to a drain location in the form of a blob, pea, or BB-shaped translucent mass found at the bottom of the sampler cup.
To prevent water contamination in Cessna 310 fuel tanks, pilots should ensure that their fuel system is equipped with fuel drain valves in all drain locations. The bulletin also recommends using raised, umbrella-style fuel filler caps to prevent water ingress and taking all necessary precautions to stop water from entering the fuel tank system from internal or external sources, such as washing, rain, snow, or sleet.
Pilots should inspect the fuel for contaminants, including water, before every flight. They should start at the highest drain location and move downward, checking all sump locations. They should drain at least one cup of fuel from each location and take repeated samples until any contamination is removed. If contaminants are still present, do not fly the airplane. Have qualified maintenance personnel drain and purge the fuel tank system, and remove all evidence of contamination before flying again.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cessna 310 has a fuel capacity of 203 gallons. However, this may vary depending on the variant and year of production.
The FAA has issued several recommendations to prevent water contamination in Cessna fuel tanks, including:
- Regularly checking external entry sites, such as caps and access panels, for evidence of water intrusion.
- Storing the airplane indoors when possible and frequently examining the fuel tank system drains if stored outdoors or exposed to moisture.
- Ensuring that the fuel tank system is equipped with raised, umbrella-style fuel filler caps to prevent water ingress.
The Cessna 310's fuel system is more complicated than other airplanes. The process typically involves taking off on the main tanks, emptying some space, pumping fuel from the nacelles into the mains, and then switching to the auxiliary tanks before returning to the mains for landing.
