---------------------------------------------------------- Commander-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 03/04/04: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- 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 _____________________________________ Time: 07:12:11 AM PST US From: "Robert Steele" Subject: RE: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak --> Commander-List message posted by: "Robert Steele" 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" 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 _____________________________________ Time: 12:18:56 PM PST US From: "Bill Bow" Subject: Re: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak --> Commander-List message posted by: "Bill Bow" 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" Subject: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak > --> Commander-List message posted by: "Kelly Piper" > > 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 _____________________________________ Time: 03:03:04 PM PST US Subject: Commander-List: Cabin Fuel Leak From: "Kelly Piper" Bounce-To: "Kelly Piper" --> Commander-List message posted by: "Kelly Piper" -->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