Flying w/faulty gas gauge

I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day VFR
flight. Yesterday during my preflight in a 172 I saw that the right gauge
was functioning intermittently--it would show full, flicker down to zero,
bounce around, etc. Tank was visually confirmed full. Mechanic messed
around with it for a while to no effect.

Would you fly this airplane?

"Yossarian" wrote in message . ..
I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day VFR
flight. Yesterday during my preflight in a 172 I saw that the right gauge
was functioning intermittently--it would show full, flicker down to zero,
bounce around, etc.

On the ground? Usually they don't start behaving that way until you are
in flight. Something is definitely wrong.

Would you fly this airplane?

Not if the FAA was watching.

-I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day VFR
-flight.

The function of a fuel gauge in a Cessna is to tell whether or not the master
switch is on.

-
-Would you fly this airplane?
-

If the mechanic said the gauge was OK (just to cover my butt) and since I don't
use the gauge to determine anything anyway, I'd go. If the gauge fails and the
FAA finds it on a ramp check, "Gee, the mechanic fixed it and it worked just
fine until ten seconds ago."

Jim



Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

Jim Weir wrote:

The function of a fuel gauge in a Cessna is to tell whether or not the master
switch is on.

Yeah, the gauges in my Skyhawk have never worked worth a damn. Every
couple of years my mechanic does some scraping on the electrical
contacts of those crappy little float things accessed behind the
filler caps and they work well enough to pass inspection. I forget
how many hundred dollars it was going to be to replace them. Doubt
replacements would do any better considering how poorly the gauges
seem to work in most Cessnas.

Jim Rosinski
N3825Q

I'm in the process of replacing the Stewart-Warner steam gauges in the 182 with
the Mitchell modular line. We're doing both fuel gauges and both oil gauges.
I'll do an analysis of my installation for a Kitplanes column, probably about
this time next year for the whole process to take place.

Jim



(jim rosinski)
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

-Jim Weir wrote:
-
- The function of a fuel gauge in a Cessna is to tell whether or not the
master
- switch is on.
-
-Yeah, the gauges in my Skyhawk have never worked worth a damn.

Doubt
-replacements would do any better considering how poorly the gauges
-seem to work in most Cessnas.
-
-Jim Rosinski
-N3825Q

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

in article , Yossarian at
wrote on 11/15/03 9:36 AM:

I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day VFR
flight. Yesterday during my preflight in a 172 I saw that the right gauge
was functioning intermittently--it would show full, flicker down to zero,
bounce around, etc. Tank was visually confirmed full. Mechanic messed
around with it for a while to no effect.

Would you fly this airplane?

Since we are taught from day 1 of our flight lessons to never trust the gas
gauge anyway, what difference does it make?

Practically it makes no difference for the reason you state. But because
the fuel gauge is required equipment technically you would be flying
illegally.

"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...
in article , Yossarian at
wrote on 11/15/03 9:36 AM:

I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day
VFR
flight. Yesterday during my preflight in a 172 I saw that the right
gauge
was functioning intermittently--it would show full, flicker down to
zero,
bounce around, etc. Tank was visually confirmed full. Mechanic messed
around with it for a while to no effect.

Would you fly this airplane?

Since we are taught from day 1 of our flight lessons to never trust the
gas
gauge anyway, what difference does it make?

in article , Yossarian at
wrote on 11/15/03 11:03 AM:

Practically it makes no difference for the reason you state. But because
the fuel gauge is required equipment technically you would be flying
illegally.

Gotcha.

BTW, I wasn't suggesting I'd fly with a faulty gauge.


"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...
in article , Yossarian at
wrote on 11/15/03 9:36 AM:

I understand that functional fuel gauges are required equipment for day
VFR
flight. Yesterday during my preflight in a 172 I saw that the right
gauge
was functioning intermittently--it would show full, flicker down to
zero,
bounce around, etc. Tank was visually confirmed full. Mechanic messed
around with it for a while to no effect.

Would you fly this airplane?

Since we are taught from day 1 of our flight lessons to never trust the
gas
gauge anyway, what difference does it make?

"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message ...

Since we are taught from day 1 of our flight lessons to never trust the gas
gauge anyway, what difference does it make?

91.205 says you have to have them.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...

Since we are taught from day 1 of our flight lessons to never trust the
gas
gauge anyway, what difference does it make?

91.205 says you have to have them.

Depends whether you feel the gas gauge is there to give you a definite
answer as to your gas state or an opinion.

From what you say its opinion is that you have anything from empty to full.
Seems ok to me.