Yes it removes header and replaces the wing tanks with twin 15 gal
tanks with elect.. pump Glenn
On Aug 15, 2010, at 8:22 PM, Tom & Susan Crocco wrote:
Thanks Dan.
Do you happen to know if the 30Gal conversion removes the nose tank?
Tom
From: Caliendo Dan
Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Fuel System Problems
The other option you alluded to that may be the cheaper/easier way
to go is to convert the wing
tanks to fit the STC for 30 gal. tanks. ?
Dan C
On Aug 15, 2010, at 10:42 AM, Ed Burkhead wrote:
Tom wrote:
> Is it possible to prepare and submit 337's for work past
> completed, AND is there an STC that covers the work
> that was done to my plane?
Tom,
I'm not an A&P or AI and just have a pilot's level knowledge of
this subject. Nevertheless, let me take a swing at answering your
question.
A standard STC is researched, engineered and approved by the FAA.
It's a market commodity the use of which can be sold. There is no
STC for removing the header tank on an Ercoupe that I know of.
Not to worry too much.
Yes, you can document and get approval for a previously performed
modification - subject to the information below.
The form 337 is often called a one-time-STC. It is a supplement
covering changes to the type certificate for one plane - approved
by the FAA. It is possible to use another pilot's form 337 as
justification for a change to your airplane. Form 337s signed off
before a certain date are considered "approved data" because all
the FAA people back then who did such sign-offs were engineers.
Form 337s signed off since that time may be accepted as "approved
data" or maybe not. It'll depend on how much the current FAA
wienie feels that approving your change might threaten his/her
career.
In the last few years, the FAA has been reluctant to approve major
changes to aircraft without some "approved data." "Approved data"
lets the blame fall on the person who created the "approved data"
rather than on the FAA wienie who signs off on your form 337.
In the absence of "approved data" in the form of an old form 337,
an approved STC, the FAA staffer may require an engineering
analysis from a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) who is
a non-FAA person authorized to make such analysis and charge money
for the service. With a favorable analysis from a DER, some
pretty major changes can be made.
Many people have bought planes and found changes for which there
is no documentation on file with the FAA. (See that document CD.)
If it is a "major" change, then the plane is not legally airworthy
until a form 337 is submitted and approved. You may be required
to include an engineering analysis from a DER.
For your fuel tank removal and fuel system restructuring, you may
well need to have "approved data" to use as a reference. Perhaps
one of the members here can fax or scan/e-mail you a copy of prior
approval for removal of the header tank.
Your fuel system restructuring is similar to that needed for the
30 gallon wing tank installation and the STC for that modification
may constitute adequate approved data for your plane's change.
I'd urge you to talk to Skyport ( http://ercoupeparts.com ) and/or
watch for a response from John Cooper here on the forum.
If your current mechanic is unwilling to do the paperwork and get
approval for the mods to your plane, you need to find a mechanic
who will. I can't blame this guy too much. He's presented with a
plane that has a strangely modified fuel system AND which is
having fuel problems sever enough to cause a forced landing. A
mechanic with plenty of other work to do may well decline to dive
into this. But in doing so to me, he would forfeit any further
business from me if I could possibly help it.
Unfortunately, I think you have some work to do and will need to
pay for some professional paperwork. In addition, some physical
work will probably need to be done to solve your current fuel
delivery problems.
Me, I liked to do cross country trips and like having the extra
fuel reserve in the header tank as well as the excellent hard-to-
mismanage fuel system. If it were mine, I'd seriously consider
buying a refurbished fuel tank and modifying the instruments as
needed, putting the plane back to the original design.
Sorry,
Ed
Ed Burkhead
http://edburkhead.com/Ercoupe/index.htm
ed -at- edburk???head. com change -at- to @
and remove question marks and extra space
