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Richard555
Joined: 11 Sep 2015 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 1:00 pm Post subject: fuel tank leak |
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I finished and first flown my Europa XS at the end of 2005 and have flown it regularly for a total of over 700 hours. I purchased a kit as a monowheel and converted it during building process to conventional tailwheel setup with the help of Bob Berube in Florida. Other than that everything was built per factory specs including fuel tank mount. The aircraft was always hangared.
About two months ago I came to my hangar only to dicover strong gasoline smell and a blue stain on the floor. I took the easy route first replacing fuel hoses and fittings even though I couldn't see any obvious wear and tear. Then I had to face the unthinkable that the fuel tank itself developed a leak somehow. The bottom of my plane has a inspection plate at the bottom right after the gear and after looking I confirmed that the port side of the tank had a leak at the bottom.
I cut out about 6 x 8 " plate from the bottom of the fuselage and exposed the leak. It was a crack where the reinforcing fiberglass was glued to the tank. I sealed it with the thick layer of tank sealer from Aircraft Spruce and so far it has been holding. I flew the aircraft for about eight hours since.
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Fred Klein
Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Posts: 503
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 3:33 pm Post subject: fuel tank leak |
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Richard…thank you for your pixs and clear description of the issue and how you’ve dealt with it…I find that Aircraft Spruce has umpteen fuel sealant products…can you let us know which product you’ve had success with?
Fred
Quote: | On Sep 12, 2015, at 2:00 PM, Richard Parzoch <rparzoch(at)hvc.rr.com (rparzoch(at)hvc.rr.com)> wrote:
I finished and first flown my Europa XS at the end of 2005 and have flown it regularly for a total of over 700 hours. I purchased a kit as a monowheel and converted it during building process to conventional tailwheel setup with the help of Bob Berube in Florida. Other than that everything was built per factory specs including fuel tank mount. The aircraft was always hangared.
About two months ago I came to my hangar only to dicover strong gasoline smell and a blue stain on the floor. I took the easy route first replacing fuel hoses and fittings even though I couldn't see any obvious wear and tear. Then I had to face the unthinkable that the fuel tank itself developed a leak somehow. The bottom of my plane has a inspection plate at the bottom right after the gear and after looking I confirmed that the port side of the tank had a leak at the bottom.
I cut out about 6 x 8 " plate from the bottom of the fuselage and exposed the leak. It was a crack where the reinforcing fiberglass was glued to the tank. I sealed it with the thick layer of tank sealer from Aircraft Spruce and so far it has been holding. I flew the aircraft for about eight hours since.
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