Garrett, Woketman,

I burned my hand when a seal blew out on a JPX cpoupling and we had a fireball when the vapour was sucked into the engine which had just started. The pipe was, and remained, firmly in the coupling but it seems that the O ring failed . Rick Burnato and Chris Mounkley were also slightly burned but are both OK now. However, we had done everthing right and one fire extinguisher tackled the model whilst another tackled me as apparently my hair and clothing were alight.

Kumpol from PST bravely put his hand into the model and closed the fuel valve saving a potentially disastrous situationof a possible explosion. The guys at Mangalore got my burnt hands into ice cold water and reduced the effects, even though the burns turned nasty last week, they are now well on the mend.

Thanks again to all involved in that incident at Mangalore and to Peter Agne and his team for organising a first class event.


I also extend my grateful thanks to the two wives (both nurses) who applied sterile dressings.

Ironically the valve which failed is not the one I use for refuelling and the valve and pipe had both been checked under a magnifying glass during a check over, problem is you cant see down into the O rings. Solution may be to change the connectors regularly and pressure check before the first start of the day, well clear of any ignition source.

A very close encounter.
BRG,

David Gladwin