Is there any problem carrying the Coleman propane cartridges on your aircraft?

We fly propane all the time. We allow the small coleman type cylinders to be carried with passengers only if they are new and sealed. We won't fly them out unless they are totally empty, as garbage.

We also fly large propane tanks, like 30 gallons (240 lbs) I believe. We carry those as HazMat, and required crew are the only ones allowed in the aircraft.

So, it's doable, just be smart how you load them, and don't smoke while flying.

John

I wouldn't worry about changes in pressure at altitude causing you problems. The pressure at 15,000' is about 6.5 psi less that what it would be at sea level. But, if you took your dark green Coleman propane bottle out of your cool truck and set it in the hot sun it could easily jump 100 psi or more.

The explosion hazard because of leaking isn't any greater than if you were to put it inside your car.

I worked a case where a twin cessna had a 5 gallon propane bottle on board when it crashed on Cat Island by running off the runway into the bush. The fuel (av gas from the wings) sprayed all over the place but did not light. The two people inside got out and walked away, but after a time went back into the brush to get some stuff out of the plane. The gas bottle was venting (a crack in the valve), and found a spark or something after a while due to it being heavyer than air. I figure they disturbed the air walking back into the site. Woof, up it went 5-10 minutes after the crash, with the two people standing in the fuel from the wings. They had to run 20 to 30 feet in a fire.

So I keep it by the door where I, or someone else, can chuck it out if I have time.

TMI I guess.

For those of you that don't like to carry fuel, or like me run out of fuel...

I use a MSR EGX stove ( http://www.msrcorp.com/stoves/xgk.asp ) that runs off 100LL Avgas, Jet fuel, white gas, kerosene, unleaded auto gas, and diesel.

I just sump the fuel out of the tanks to preheat the engine or cook with and dump the rest back into the tank. Let the tank dry for a few minutes and blow the fumes out.

The only downside is with 100LL you need to clean the jet after a few uses; which is very easy.

-Todd Giencke