n7188u
Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404
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 Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 7:01 am Post subject: Fuel tank outlet boss couplings |
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To continue with the tank woes discussion, I love my Europa but I am not a fan of the fuel tank (should I just say "hate"). - end-of-rant -
Yesterday I took off and got greeted by strong gasoline smell in the cockpit during initial climb. I immediately flew the pattern and landed to find that the vent hose coupler let go and it was dumping gas into the right fwd baggage area. Not a lot of it since my tank had only 12 gallons but boy did it smell.
The hose coupling was wet with fuel and impossible to put back because it was very slippery. I had to put the airplane away and wait until the coupling dried to put it back in. Flew this morning and no problem.
I am really afraid that this could happen one day to one of the bottom pickup couplings since I used the same hose (good quality, US made, NBR liner and approved for E85). Although it doesn't look like the ethanol fuel affects the hose itself, if any fuel gets between the hose and boss surface it becomes very slippery and pulls out. I had this vent coupling failure before but never to the bottom pickups (thank you).
So any tricks out there to keep these darn couplings for slipping out.
As I write this I wonder: the bottom ones never failed but the vent one twice. Maybe my vent hose is pulling on it when flying and eventually a small leak forms, gets slippery and pulls out. I will check for that. I will also make it a habit of checking the bottom ones more often.
Thoughts?
Chris
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