Put the wing bolts in backwards Glenn
On Aug 16, 2010, at 6:21 PM, Eddie Wilson wrote:
Where is everyone getting the 15 gallon fuel tanks to perform this
STC? I was not aware they are still being made or any available.
How could performing this STC that requires a leading edge mod on
the wings be cheaper than reinstalling a header tank and relocating
the radios.
With the 15 gal wing tank STC, I thinks this makes wing removal
much more involved having to remove the tanks inorder to access the
wing bolts....
Eddie Wilson
N5625F
From: Glenn Putnam <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 12:00:52 PM
Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Fuel System Problems
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
