Good observation Linda. It could also be the fuel valve itself leaking...
Hartmut To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:09:06 -0700 Subject: [ercoupe-tech] fuel in cockpit > Bert, A couple years ago, not long after I got my 415-C, I began getting blue stains on my hand whenever I reached under the panel to check the position of the fuel valve handle during pre-flight. Turns out there was a small amount of seepage from where the tube that that valve is on goes into the header tank. The valve mechanism is right over pilot's feet, so I thought of this as something else worth checking in your situation. Linda > Bert wrote: > >> >> >> I have presented this problem before. Several suggestions were put >> forth. However, the problem presists. In a nut shell: >> >> - every flight leads to an eventual high volume leak of fuel into >> > the > >> cockpit generally over the left seat occupants feet. >> >> - turning off the fuel pump will stop the leak. >> >> - the system has been pressure tested twice, no leaks found. >> >> - the aircraft has had a fuel 'smell' for sometime now. >> >> - installtion of a new fuel filler cap (with glass covered fuel >> > level > >> indicator) solved the odor problem. >> >> - the new cap has a NEW gasket. >> >> - the caps airvent seems the only place fuel can exit the header >> > tank. > >> >> - the gasket at the at exit of the filler tube through the cowling >> > is > >> probably as old as the plane (1946) >> >> - best idea is, the system builds up pressure and forces fuel out >> > the > >> air vent, which then is forced by the in flight airstream down and >> under the cowling where it eventually flows over the header tank and >> onto the left seat occupants feet. >> >> - the overflow plumbing seems to be in working order. You can hear >> > the > >> fuel flowing back down to the wing tank when you over fill the >> > header > >> tank. >> >> - fuel exiting the airvent is not visually apparent during flight. >> >>>> - simply replacing the gasket at the filler tube/cowling would stop >>>> the fuel from entering the cockpit --- but not the actual lose of >>>> >>> fuel >>> >>>> in flight >>>> >>>> - anyone want to suggest a fix? Turning off the fuel pump and never >>>> allowing the header to fill itself works, but is obviously not a >>>> >>> fix, >>> >>>> just a work around. >>>> >>>> Help --- anyone, Please. >>>> >>>> Bert Hampton >>>> >>>> _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009
