Folk:

 

Assuming nothing in the tank itself is broken or misconnected, it is *not*
possible for fuel to leak back into the wings through either the overflow or
the pump.  The overflow line is what sets the fuel level in the header.
When fuel reaches the correct level the overflow line is no longer "under
water" and fuel stops flowing back to the wings.  The fill pipe is *higher*
in the tank than the over flow line, so fuel can *never* under any
circumstances flow back through that line as it is never below the level of
the fuel in the tank.

 

What can go wrong?  First, I've seen the two lines switched, so the fuel
level is higher than it should be and the inlet is below the fuel level in
the tank.  Usually this results in a complaint of fuel on the windscreen. If
the pump check valves leak then fuel could go back to the wings, but should
stop when the fuel reaches the level of the fitting, which is where it
should be normally, anyhow.  This situation should be corrected as in an
emergency it would not be possible to stop that extra fuel in the tank from
dumping into the engine compartment should one of the lines on the pump
fail. 

 

The other problem is a crack in one of the lines or fittings (depending on
vintage) that allows fuel into either the overflow or the fill line at a
level below the intended level. One way this can happen is if someone is
careless with a fill nozzle when filling the header tank manually.

 

John Cooper

Skyport Services

www.skyportservices.net

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