DOC AIRBUS | AMM A320FCold Weather Maintenance - Fuel
TASK 12-31-28-660-001-A
Cold Weather Maintenance - Fuel
Self explanatory
2. Job Set-up Information
A. Fixtures, Tools, Test and Support Equipment
B. Referenced Information
3. Job Set-up
Subtask 12-31-28-869-050-A ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
Subtask 12-31-28-660-050-A
Subtask 12-31-28-942-050-A
[Rev.10 from 2021]
2026.04.01 04:22:15 UTC
Cold Weather Maintenance - Fuel
WARNING:
OBEY THE FUEL SAFETY PROCEDURES.
WARNING:
MAKE SURE THE AREA AROUND THE AIRCRAFT IS SAFE BEFORE YOU START THE REFUEL/DEFUEL PROCEDURE. IN THE SAFETY AREA, DO NOT:
1. Reason for the Job- SMOKE
- MAKE SPARKS OR FIRE
- USE ANY EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT APPROVED FOR REFUEL/DEFUEL PROCEDURES.
Self explanatory
2. Job Set-up Information
A. Fixtures, Tools, Test and Support Equipment
| REFERENCE | QTY | DESIGNATION |
|---|---|---|
| No specific | AR | BLOWING EQUIPMENT - HOT AIR |
| No specific | AR | SAFETY BARRIER(S) |
| No specific | AR | THERMOMETER-SURFACE CONTACT |
| REFERENCE | DESIGNATION |
|---|---|
| TASK 12-32-28-281-001-A | Drain Water Content |
| TASK 28-00-00-910-001-A | Fuel Safety Procedures |
Subtask 12-31-28-869-050-A ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
A. General Information
The procedure that follows gives the cold weather maintenance-practices for the fuel system when:
The fuel storage and the work environment conditions can have an important effect on the quantity of water mixed with fuel. In unsatisfactory conditions, each 3785 l (1000 USgal) of fuel can contain a maximum of 0.76 l (0.2 USgal) of water. Water can go into the tanks through:
In cold conditions, much of this water can come out of solution and fall to the bottom of the tank. It then collects at the lowest parts of the tank and can form ice. The formation of ice (and the presence of water) in the fuel tanks can have an effect on the fuel system and any adjacent systems and the adjacent structures.
The approved anti-ice additive can be added in the correct proportions to the fuel that is supplied to the aircraft. This can prevent the water in the fuel to freeze and let it drain from a tank with a fuel temperature below 0 deg.C (32 deg.F). The ice in the fuel tank can be melted through these procedures:
You must do the water drain procedure regularly to make sure that water is drained from the tank low points. For the water drain procedure and the minimum quantity levels (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
Subtask 12-31-28-869-050-B ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL The procedure that follows gives the cold weather maintenance-practices for the fuel system when:
- An aircraft is in operation or in storage conditions with ground temperature between 0 deg.C (32 deg.F) and -54 deg.C (-65 deg.F)
or - The fuel temperature in the tanks is less than -5 deg.C (23 deg.F).
The fuel storage and the work environment conditions can have an important effect on the quantity of water mixed with fuel. In unsatisfactory conditions, each 3785 l (1000 USgal) of fuel can contain a maximum of 0.76 l (0.2 USgal) of water. Water can go into the tanks through:
- The fuel supplied to the aircraft.
- The air in the tank.
- During descent, large quantities of moist air can go into the tank.
- The fuel which is open to moist or wet atmospheric conditions will contain larger quantities of water than the fuel in the sealed containers.
In cold conditions, much of this water can come out of solution and fall to the bottom of the tank. It then collects at the lowest parts of the tank and can form ice. The formation of ice (and the presence of water) in the fuel tanks can have an effect on the fuel system and any adjacent systems and the adjacent structures.
The approved anti-ice additive can be added in the correct proportions to the fuel that is supplied to the aircraft. This can prevent the water in the fuel to freeze and let it drain from a tank with a fuel temperature below 0 deg.C (32 deg.F). The ice in the fuel tank can be melted through these procedures:
- Ambient air heat in a hangar
- A refuel procedure with warm fuel
- Warm air heat from a blower, until the temperature of the bottom skin is 1 deg.C (34 deg.F). This procedure is usually done in a hangar.
- When the above three methods were used together.
NOTE: The formation of ice can occur on the inner surface of the fuel tank, near the water drain valve. When you drain fuel from the tank to do a water analysis check, the fuel flows above the ice and collects water. This can cause incorrect analysis results. The procedure that follows will remove most of the water/ice from the fuel tank.
You must do the water drain procedure regularly to make sure that water is drained from the tank low points. For the water drain procedure and the minimum quantity levels (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
NOTE: The attitude monitor operates when the temperature is between -40 deg.C (-40 deg.F) and 50 deg.C (122 deg.F). If the temperature is not in the specified limits, you can do an alternative procedure to find the aircraft attitude figure.
NOTE: If the external temperature is less than -15 deg.C (5.00 deg.F), the hot air blower does not give satisfactory results.
If you must do a fuel transfer from the auxiliary center tanks, make sure that the aft cargo-compartment temperature is above -40 deg.C (-40 deg.F).A. General Information
The procedure that follows gives the cold weather maintenance-practices for the fuel system when:
The fuel storage and the work environment conditions can have an important effect on the quantity of water mixed with fuel. In unsatisfactory conditions, each 3785 l (1000 USgal) of fuel can contain a maximum of 0.76 l (0.2 USgal) of water. Water can go into the tanks through:
In cold conditions, much of this water can come out of solution and fall to the bottom of the tank. It then collects at the lowest parts of the tank and can form ice. The formation of ice (and the presence of water) in the fuel tanks can have an effect on the fuel system and any adjacent systems and the adjacent structures.
The approved anti-ice additive can be added in the correct proportions to the fuel that is supplied to the aircraft. This can prevent the water in the fuel to freeze and let it drain from a tank with a fuel temperature below 0 deg.C (32 deg.F). The ice in the fuel tank can be melted through these procedures:
You must do the water drain procedure regularly to make sure that water is drained from the tank low points. For the water drain procedure and the minimum quantity levels (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
Subtask 12-31-28-941-050-A The procedure that follows gives the cold weather maintenance-practices for the fuel system when:
- An aircraft is in operation or in storage conditions with ground temperature between 0 deg.C (32 deg.F) and -54 deg.C (-65 deg.F)
or - The fuel temperature in the tanks is less than -5 deg.C (23 deg.F).
The fuel storage and the work environment conditions can have an important effect on the quantity of water mixed with fuel. In unsatisfactory conditions, each 3785 l (1000 USgal) of fuel can contain a maximum of 0.76 l (0.2 USgal) of water. Water can go into the tanks through:
- The fuel supplied to the aircraft.
- The air in the tank.
- During descent, large quantities of moist air can go into the tank.
- The fuel which is open to moist or wet atmospheric conditions will contain larger quantities of water than the fuel in the sealed containers.
In cold conditions, much of this water can come out of solution and fall to the bottom of the tank. It then collects at the lowest parts of the tank and can form ice. The formation of ice (and the presence of water) in the fuel tanks can have an effect on the fuel system and any adjacent systems and the adjacent structures.
The approved anti-ice additive can be added in the correct proportions to the fuel that is supplied to the aircraft. This can prevent the water in the fuel to freeze and let it drain from a tank with a fuel temperature below 0 deg.C (32 deg.F). The ice in the fuel tank can be melted through these procedures:
- Ambient air heat in a hangar
- A refuel procedure with warm fuel
- Warm air heat from a blower, until the temperature of the bottom skin is 1 deg.C (34 deg.F). This procedure is usually done in a hangar.
- When the above three methods were used together.
NOTE: The formation of ice can occur on the inner surface of the fuel tank, near the water drain valve. When you drain fuel from the tank to do a water analysis check, the fuel flows above the ice and collects water. This can cause incorrect analysis results. The procedure that follows will remove most of the water/ice from the fuel tank.
You must do the water drain procedure regularly to make sure that water is drained from the tank low points. For the water drain procedure and the minimum quantity levels (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
NOTE: If the external temperature is less than -15 deg.C (5.00 deg.F), the hot air blower does not give satisfactory results.
If you must do a fuel transfer from the auxiliary center tanks, make sure that the aft cargo-compartment temperature is above -40 deg.C (-40 deg.F).B. Safety Precautions
(2) Put the SAFETY BARRIER(S) in position.
4. ProcedureWARNING:
OBEY THE FUEL SAFETY PROCEDURES.
(1) You must obey the fuel safety procedures (Ref. AMM TASK 28-00-00-910-001) when you do work on the fuel system. (2) Put the SAFETY BARRIER(S) in position.
Subtask 12-31-28-660-050-A
A. Water Draining of the Tanks
(1) If a water drain does not open with the usual pressure, find the cause. The valve could be frozen because of the low temperature.
(2) Water draining of the tanks (aircraft in a hangar):
(a) If possible, refuel the aircraft with "warm" fuel.
(b) Use a THERMOMETER-SURFACE CONTACT to measure the temperature of the bottom skin of the tank to be drained.
(c) If necessary, use an approved BLOWING EQUIPMENT - HOT AIR to warm the bottom skin of the tank to be drained. Make sure the temperature of the bottom skin does not increase to more than 50 deg.C (122.00 deg.F).
(b) Use a THERMOMETER-SURFACE CONTACT to measure the temperature of the bottom skin of the tank to be drained.
Subtask 12-31-28-660-051-A (1) If a water drain does not open with the usual pressure, find the cause. The valve could be frozen because of the low temperature.
(2) Water draining of the tanks (aircraft in a hangar):
(a) If possible, refuel the aircraft with "warm" fuel.
(b) Use a THERMOMETER-SURFACE CONTACT to measure the temperature of the bottom skin of the tank to be drained.
(c) If necessary, use an approved BLOWING EQUIPMENT - HOT AIR to warm the bottom skin of the tank to be drained. Make sure the temperature of the bottom skin does not increase to more than 50 deg.C (122.00 deg.F).
NOTE: The temperature of all the bottom skin should be 1 deg.C (33.80 deg.F) or more measured one minute after the removal of the hot air blower.
(d) Drain accumulated water (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001) 30 minutes after the aircraft has been refueled (and before the bottom skin temperature decreases below 0 deg.C (32.00 deg.F)). NOTE: When you do the water drain procedure, it can be necessary to drain large quantities of fuel to get a satisfactory HYDROKIT test result (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
(3) Water draining of the tanks (aircraft outside): CAUTION:
MAKE SURE THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR FROM THE HOT AIR BLOWER IS NOT MORE THAN 50 DEG.C (122 DEG.F).
IF THE TEMPERATURE IS MORE THAN 50 DEG.C (122 DEG.F) YOU CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
(a) If possible, refuel the aircraft with "warm" fuel. (b) Use a THERMOMETER-SURFACE CONTACT to measure the temperature of the bottom skin of the tank to be drained.
NOTE: To do the procedure the temperature near to the drain valves should be 1 deg.C (33.80 deg.F) or more. It is possible that not all of the ice will be melted, thus the drain procedure will not be fully successful.
(c) Use an approved BLOWING EQUIPMENT - HOT AIR to warm the bottom skin of the tank to be drained. Make sure the temperature of the bottom skin does not increase to more than 50 deg.C (122.00 deg.F). NOTE: The temperature of the bottom skin near to the drain valve should be 1 deg.C (33.80 deg.F) or more measured one minute after the removal of the hot air blower.
(d) Drain the accumulated water (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001) 30 minutes after the aircraft has been refueled (and before the bottom skin temperature near to the drain valves decreases below 0 deg.C (32.00 deg.F)). NOTE: When you do the water drain procedure, it can be necessary to drain large quantities of fuel to get a satisfactory HYDROKIT test result (Ref. AMM TASK 12-32-28-281-001).
B. Anti-Icing Additives
(1) If you think that fuel temperatures will be less than 0 deg.C (32.00 deg.F) (and if it is not possible to warm the aircraft in a hangar) it is necessary to put anti-icing additives in the fuel. This makes sure that the water in the fuel does not freeze.
When you add anti-icing additives to the fuel, the concentration must not be more than 0.15 % by volume.
You must also make sure that the additive is fully mixed with the fuel.
5. Close-up(1) If you think that fuel temperatures will be less than 0 deg.C (32.00 deg.F) (and if it is not possible to warm the aircraft in a hangar) it is necessary to put anti-icing additives in the fuel. This makes sure that the water in the fuel does not freeze.
When you add anti-icing additives to the fuel, the concentration must not be more than 0.15 % by volume.
You must also make sure that the additive is fully mixed with the fuel.
NOTE: Refer to the engine manufacturer data for approved fuel additives.
Subtask 12-31-28-942-050-A
A. Removal of Equipment
(1) Remove the safety barriers
(2) Remove the ground support and maintenance equipment, the special and standard tools and all other items.
(1) Remove the safety barriers
(2) Remove the ground support and maintenance equipment, the special and standard tools and all other items.