# AD 47-20-01: Gascolator Bowl Cleaning

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: American Champion 11AC, 7AC and 7BCM (Army L-16A)
- Effective: March 18, 1980
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-3712
- Registered aircraft: 2,899 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/5AA01F3EB6CD45A486256CC4006A75F3.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/47-20-01

## The airworthiness directive

47-20-01 BELLANCA (AERONCA): Amendment 39-3712. (Was Service Note 1 of AD-759-3 and Service Note 1 of AD-761-2.) Applies to Bellanca (Aeronca) Model 7AC, 7BCM, and 11AC aircraft, equipped with metal gascolator bowls, certificated in all categories.

Compliance required as indicated below.

1. If the aircraft is equipped with a metal gascolator bowl that does not have a built in quick-drain arrangement, accomplish the following each 25 hours of engine operation:

  (a) Slowly rock the wings of the aircraft in accordance with Champion (Aeronca) supplement to "Service Helps and Hints", Nos. 15 and 18, reissued July 1, 1964, so that water lying in the fuel tank can settle into the gascolator bowl.

  (b) Remove the gascolator bowl and completely clean the bowl and the strainer screen to remove accumulations of water and foreign matter.

NOTE: If operating conditions are such that large quantities of water are found during these inspections, the gascolator bowl should be removed more frequently and the carburetor bowl should also be drained periodically.

2. If the aircraft is equipped with a metal gascolator bowl that does have a built in quick-drain arrangement, at each annual inspection remove the gascolator bowl and completely clean the bowl and the strainer screen to remove accumulations of water and foreign matter.

NOTE: Quick-drain shall be used during each pre-flight inspection.

Bellanca (Champion)(Aeronca) "Service Helps and Hints", No. 15, reissued July 1, 1964; No. 18, reissued March 15, 1962; and the supplement to these bulletins, reissued July 1, 1964, also pertain to this subject.

This Amendment 39-3712 becomes effective March 18, 1980.

## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A-759](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-759): American Champion Aircraft Corp.; names 2 of 22 models: 7AC, 7BCM (Army L-16A)
- [TCDS A-761](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-761): American Champion Aircraft Corp.; names 1 of 4 models: 11AC

## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs)

Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment.

- Aircraft: 2,899 (2,899 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Aeronca 2,657, Champion 238, American Champion 2, Aeronca/Miller/Delaney 1, Aeronca/Obrien 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac): 1,878 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac): 603 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm): 175 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Champion 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ac): 144 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Champion AERONCA 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7ac): 58 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Champion 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7bcm): 19 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Champion AERONCA 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7bcm): 17 aircraft (airframe model)
- [American Champion 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7ac): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Aeronca/Obrien 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-obrien-7ac): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Aeronca CHAMPION 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-champion-7bcm): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Aeronca/Miller/Delaney 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-miller-delaney-11ac): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 11 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/47-20-01/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/47-20-01/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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