Defective tank grounds pilots' flying ambition

A defective tank in a single engine plane has indefinitely grounded two American pilots hoping to fly across the Pacific.

Ben Cart, 55, and Tom Ackley, 62, have spent a year working on plans to take a 1977 Beechcraft Bonanza from California to South Canterbury via island stops across the Pacific Ocean.

The men had hoped to be in the air by last Saturday, had flight plan approval and were almost ready to take off when they discovered their main ferry tank, which was supposed to hold 605 litres of fuel, held only 454 litres.

The plane's fuel capacity had been increased in preparation for the flight. Initially, the men had thought the discovery would set back their plans by a week. However, Mr Cart said the problem would now take longer to fix.

"In order to correct the defect, the manufacturer would have to fabricate another tank in Australia, ship it to the US, and then we would have to redo the entire installation, putting the trip on indefinite hold," Mr Cart said.

Mr Cart said he and Mr Ackley were upset and disappointed.

"We feel proud that we found the discrepancy even after the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] signed the aircraft off as ready for the flight."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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