It's typically water; which doesn't burn well, and can look like what's in the sample cup below. Other material from the tank itself also can be a problem.
Sampling the tanks is probably the easiest way to detect contamination, even though it often means a little time groping around for a belly drain.
FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-125, Water In Aviation Fuels, notes that water in fuel is either dissolved or free. Free water is visible as “slugs,” which is FAA-speak for the water you might see at the bottom of a fuel sampler cup, as shown here.
On The Cover: Sumping fuel tanks prior to takeoff is a time-honored practice with real-world safety implications. The pictured contaminant is water, but it could be almost anything else. Note that fuel-related mishaps account for a startling number of accidents. For more on this topic, see the article beginning on page 13. Image by the Editor-In-Chief.
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