Would you fly this Aircraft?

I'd be interested in "go/no-go" opinions of others, based solely on the
following information ...

"Naturally aspirated, carburated, light twin (C172 engines) - hasn't been
flown for 3 weeks - at the conclusion of last flight was fueled to the max.
Has since been observed to have fuel dripping from the right-hand engine
nacelle. Has been checkd by engineer who has put it down to "full tanks +
volume change due to temperature changes".

No other information available.

My initial thought was "why wouldn't the excess fuel get forced out through
the tank vents, rather than through "something" within the engine bay.

How many of you would / would not fly this aircraft based on the above info?

(I appreciate that more info would be nice, but it's all I have available).

Many thanks,

Cheers,

Based on that, I would NOT fly the aircraft UNTIL I had
personally inspected it to see what was leaking and from
where. If the float valve was leaking, the fuel level would
rise and over-flow from the vent on the carb. That is an
easy fix. If a fuel line is leaking, it is also an easy
fix. If a crack is in the float bowl, you replace the carb,
also easy but more expensive.

What is the history of the airplane before and on the last
flight? Was is parked with the fuel valves OFF or ON?


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"C J Southern" wrote in message
...
| I'd be interested in "go/no-go" opinions of others, based
solely on the
| following information ...
|
| "Naturally aspirated, carburated, light twin (C172
engines) - hasn't been
| flown for 3 weeks - at the conclusion of last flight was
fueled to the max.
| Has since been observed to have fuel dripping from the
right-hand engine
| nacelle. Has been checkd by engineer who has put it down
to "full tanks +
| volume change due to temperature changes".
|
| No other information available.
|
| My initial thought was "why wouldn't the excess fuel get
forced out through
| the tank vents, rather than through "something" within the
engine bay.
|
| How many of you would / would not fly this aircraft based
on the above info?
|
| (I appreciate that more info would be nice, but it's all I
have available).
|
| Many thanks,
|
| Cheers,
|
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message
newso6Tf.118036$QW2.75471@dukeread08...

What is the history of the airplane before and on the last
flight? Was is parked with the fuel valves OFF or ON?

Several years ago the aircraft showed the same symptoms - on that occasion
the leak was due to a fractured primer line.

Prior to the last flight there were no know issues.

Aircraft is always parked with fuel selectors ON, but following the leak the
right hand fuel selector has been turned off to stop any more leakage.

Personal investigation would be difficult - it would require removal of the
cowling (which presumably the engineer has done). If the cowling isn't
removed, then the only place you can see anything is via the oil filler
flap - which lets one see very very little.

Removal of the cowling is required and I would want to
either do it or be present. Fuel lines can leak due to
loose fittings, broken lines that crack from fatigue or
abrasion. I would want to visually inspect for any signs of
fuel stains and any damage.

The problem is not just possible engine failure, but fire
and explosion inside the wing or cowling.

Since mechanics {engineers} often won't fly in airplanes
they have performed maintenance upon, you, the PIC must be
able to inspect the airplane and satisfy yourself.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"C J Southern" wrote in message
...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in message
| newso6Tf.118036$QW2.75471@dukeread08...
|
| What is the history of the airplane before and on the
last
| flight? Was is parked with the fuel valves OFF or ON?
|
| Several years ago the aircraft showed the same symptoms -
on that occasion
| the leak was due to a fractured primer line.
|
| Prior to the last flight there were no know issues.
|
| Aircraft is always parked with fuel selectors ON, but
following the leak the
| right hand fuel selector has been turned off to stop any
more leakage.
|
| Personal investigation would be difficult - it would
require removal of the
| cowling (which presumably the engineer has done). If the
cowling isn't
| removed, then the only place you can see anything is via
the oil filler
| flap - which lets one see very very little.
|
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message newso6Tf.118036$QW2.75471@dukeread08...
Based on that, I would NOT fly the aircraft UNTIL I had
personally inspected it to see what was leaking and from
where. If the float valve was leaking, the fuel level would
rise and over-flow from the vent on the carb. That is an
easy fix. If a fuel line is leaking, it is also an easy
fix. If a crack is in the float bowl, you replace the carb,
also easy but more expensive.

What is the history of the airplane before and on the last
flight? Was is parked with the fuel valves OFF or ON?


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P



Don't see how the carb float valve could be leaking; the mixture is at idle cutoff, right?

Idle cutoff stops flow of fuel to the venturi/throat, but
the float valve stops the flow of fuel into the carb float
bowl.

--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


".Blueskies." wrote in
message
...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in message newso6Tf.118036$QW2.75471@dukeread08...
| Based on that, I would NOT fly the aircraft UNTIL I had
| personally inspected it to see what was leaking and from
| where. If the float valve was leaking, the fuel level
would
| rise and over-flow from the vent on the carb. That is
an
| easy fix. If a fuel line is leaking, it is also an easy
| fix. If a crack is in the float bowl, you replace the
carb,
| also easy but more expensive.
|
| What is the history of the airplane before and on the
last
| flight? Was is parked with the fuel valves OFF or ON?
|
|
| --
| James H. Macklin
| ATP,CFI,A&P
|
|
|
| Don't see how the carb float valve could be leaking; the
mixture is at idle cutoff, right?
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message news:eqeTf.118075$QW2.13026@dukeread08...
Idle cutoff stops flow of fuel to the venturi/throat, but
the float valve stops the flow of fuel into the carb float
bowl.

--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P



OK, so the float bowl is always filled as far as the (good) float/needle allows it to be while the mixture control is
downstream of the float needle? Actually makes sense because the float is supposed to control the head pressure against
the carb jet, and putting a cutoff in front of the float would only cause the bowl level to lower with very slight
leaning due to the reduces head pressure. One of these days I'll get to mess around with one of these engines....

Thanks Jim...

I had a commercial pilots certificate for some time before I
attended A&P school [Spartan] and I learned that I didn't
know a lot of things about aircraft engines that I think a
pilot should know.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


".Blueskies." wrote in
message
t...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in message news:eqeTf.118075$QW2.13026@dukeread08...
| Idle cutoff stops flow of fuel to the venturi/throat,
but
| the float valve stops the flow of fuel into the carb
float
| bowl.
|
| --
| James H. Macklin
| ATP,CFI,A&P
|
|
|
| OK, so the float bowl is always filled as far as the
(good) float/needle allows it to be while the mixture
control is
| downstream of the float needle? Actually makes sense
because the float is supposed to control the head pressure
against
| the carb jet, and putting a cutoff in front of the float
would only cause the bowl level to lower with very slight
| leaning due to the reduces head pressure. One of these
days I'll get to mess around with one of these engines....
|
| Thanks Jim...
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in

.....If the float valve was leaking, the fuel level would
rise

Not likely to happen on a low-wing twin. Maybe a Cessna single.

Who said this was a low-wing twin?



"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in
|
| .....If the float valve was leaking, the fuel level
would
| rise
|
| Not likely to happen on a low-wing twin. Maybe a Cessna
single.
|
|