If a fuel sample is bad, what is the first step to take?

The first step to take if a fuel sample is found to be bad is to retain the bad sample and drain one gallon. This procedure is crucial for several reasons. By retaining the bad sample, you ensure that there is a physical record of the contamination or issue for further analysis. This can be critical in identifying the source of the problem and is often required for reporting purposes to maintain safety and operational integrity.

Draining one gallon serves to mitigate any potential hazards that might arise from using contaminated fuel, helping to prevent damage to aircraft systems or engines. This action is a part of the process to safeguard operational safety, ensuring that only clean, compliant fuel is used moving forward.

Other steps, such as notifying the fuel supplier or conducting another sampling, are important parts of the overall process but come after confirming and retaining evidence of the bad fuel. Discarding the sample without retaining it could lead to a loss of important data needed for addressing the issue.