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From: William R. Bayne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 12:27 PM
To: Ed Burkhead
Subject: WRB Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Emergency
RLYFLYIN
RLYTECH
Hi Lynn, Harry, Glen (and all),
Confirming earlier advice, and quoting from the C.A.A. Approved Flight Manual for Ercoupe Models 'E' & 'G', page 8:
(Heading of "Wing Tank Caps") "Do not use caps with vents in this model Ercoupe".
If the fuel system diagram on page 7 is compared with the one in the C.A.A. Approved Flight Manual for Ercoupe Model 415-D, page 7, the systems are identical. The Ercoupe Parts Catalog makes it further clear that non-vented wing caps are specified for airframes serial number "4424 up" (all 415-Ds and 415-CDs, which would include the one hundred plus Model CDs factory modified before sale to private parties that have serial numbers below 4424).
It is the existence of a tee in the vent/return line from the fuselage tank then going to BOTH wing tanks that makes unvented wing tanks appropriate for a given airframe, and NOT blind adherence to Parts Catalogue serial numbers. I realize this may put function ahead of paperwork in priority, but this seems appropriate for any flying machine for which such a choice is necessary.
If both wing tanks can vent to the header tank in an airframe still shown by the FAA as a 415-C, the only way to make the paperwork agree with functional reality is to complete necessary modifications to 415-CD or 415-D model specification. This would, in either case, include the stainless skin over the cowl tank.
There would also have to be follow up to get FAA records changed to indicate this and a new Manufacturer's plate should show the new model and date of (official) conversion. The latter should be coordinated with and authorized by Univair, as the current Type certificate holder (I believe). There are numerous Ercoupe airframe model conversions that have been accomplished and logged, but not shown by current FAA records, as well as similar engine conversions. More than a little confusion can result at time of sale.
Regards,
William R. Bayne
<____|-(o)-|____>
(Copyright 2004)
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On Jan 14, 2006, at 08:32, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hey Glen: That is most likely correct. As I recall you said it was a G model, and I believe the fuel systems used then were only vented at the header tank.
Lynn
On Jan 14, 2006, at 09:00, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I was concerned about my coupes system being only vented at the header tank. So I drained fuel from the gascolater and calculated that the rate was between 12 to 15 gal /hour rate, slowing to 12 gal/hr. as the header tank emptied.....
From this I concluded that the header tank vent ...thru the wire float hole clearance was sufficient.
Harry
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