Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 07:12 AM - Re: Cabin Fuel Leak (Robert Steele)
2. 12:18 PM - Re: Cabin Fuel Leak (Bill Bow)
3. 03:03 PM - Cabin Fuel Leak (Kelly Piper)
Message 1
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--> Commander-List message posted by: "Robert Steele" <bob.steele@kzf.com>
Call Gary Kromer at Commander Aero. He has some solutions.
Bob Steele
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Kelly
Piper
Subject: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak
--> Commander-List message posted by: "Kelly Piper" <kellyp@air-matrix.com>
Hi everyone, Just wanted to share an experience with the group. Last
weekend
upon leaving Laughlin, Nevada for Arlington, WA we encountered a sizeable
fuel leak from behind the co-pilot's panel. It happened after right engine
start-up and after a very quick shutdown (the leak was a steady stream) we
were able to isolate it to the right engine 3-in-1 guage (oil temp, oil
pressure, and fuel pressure). It appears that the aneroid wafer for the
fuel
pressure ruptured and the case failed to contain the fuel in the instrument
case.
All of our guages were sent in for test/calibration less than a year ago,
but
the 3-in-1 guages were not opened - only bench tested. The records for
N2732B do not show a last overhaul date on either guage so it is possible
that it has been many years since they were last opened and inspected. I
sent both guages in for overhaul as the other guage probably would be next
to
go. Also of note was that there was no "early indicator" of the failure -
the fuel pressure was reading normal right up to the point of failure.
I guess the moral of the story is to specify an overhaul on critical but
functioning critical guages if it has been several years since the last
overhaul. Fortunatly, the Man was looking out for us and it happened on the
ground and not in flight.
On the same topic, does anyone know of a suitable replacement for the
3-in-1's that uses a sender unit on the fuel pressure side vs. direct
reading? I really don't like the idea of fuel under pressure routed to the
instrument panel and would be interested in alternative solutions.
Thanks,
Kelly Piper
N2732B
Arlington Washington
Kelly Piper
Director of Operations,
AirMatrix
360-435-7343
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: Cabin Fuel Leak |
--> Commander-List message posted by: "Bill Bow" <bowing74@earthlink.net>
While you're back there you had better replace the hoses that go to the
guage. Mine were 40 years old.
bilbo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Piper" <kellyp@air-matrix.com>
Subject: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak
> --> Commander-List message posted by: "Kelly Piper"
<kellyp@air-matrix.com>
>
> Hi everyone, Just wanted to share an experience with the group. Last
weekend
> upon leaving Laughlin, Nevada for Arlington, WA we encountered a sizeable
> fuel leak from behind the co-pilot's panel. It happened after right
engine
> start-up and after a very quick shutdown (the leak was a steady stream) we
> were able to isolate it to the right engine 3-in-1 guage (oil temp, oil
> pressure, and fuel pressure). It appears that the aneroid wafer for the
fuel
> pressure ruptured and the case failed to contain the fuel in the
instrument
> case.
>
> All of our guages were sent in for test/calibration less than a year ago,
but
> the 3-in-1 guages were not opened - only bench tested. The records for
> N2732B do not show a last overhaul date on either guage so it is possible
> that it has been many years since they were last opened and inspected. I
> sent both guages in for overhaul as the other guage probably would be next
to
> go. Also of note was that there was no "early indicator" of the failure -
> the fuel pressure was reading normal right up to the point of failure.
>
> I guess the moral of the story is to specify an overhaul on critical but
> functioning critical guages if it has been several years since the last
> overhaul. Fortunatly, the Man was looking out for us and it happened on
the
> ground and not in flight.
>
> On the same topic, does anyone know of a suitable replacement for the
> 3-in-1's that uses a sender unit on the fuel pressure side vs. direct
> reading? I really don't like the idea of fuel under pressure routed to
the
> instrument panel and would be interested in alternative solutions.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kelly Piper
> N2732B
> Arlington Washington
>
> Kelly Piper
> Director of Operations,
> AirMatrix
> 360-435-7343
>
>
Message 3
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Bounce-To: "Kelly Piper" <kellyp@air-matrix.com>
--> Commander-List message posted by: "Kelly Piper" <kellyp@air-matrix.com>
-->While you're back there you had better replace the hoses that go to the
-->guage. Mine were 40 years old.
Excellent point Bilbo.
Fortunately, Every hose and any suspect hydraulic lines were replaced last
year as part of the restoration. The hoses we pulled out were in pretty
scary shape. One engine fuel hose was worn through the metal mesh and had
exposed the soft inner rubber liner. In the engine compartment, the proper
routing and securing of ALL lines and hoses cannot be overstated. Through
the years, replacement lines and hoses were haphazardly routed and several
were rubbing against the engine mounts and other areas where vibration had
really torn them up.
Particular attention should be paid to routing lines and hoses so that the
relative motion of the engine on the engine mount pads and the fixed items
like the engine mounts, nacelles, oil cooler, firewall fittings, etc do not
create any kind of stress or rub points. It's amazing how many "mechanics"
will just install a hose without taking relative motion into account or
securing it in any way.
Kelly Piper
Commander 560A N2732B
Director Of Operations
AirMatrix
Kelly Piper
Director of Operations,
AirMatrix
360-435-7343
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