What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported when returning to level flight from inverted aerobatic maneuver, engine "burbled". Pilot declared emergency and elected to execute precautionary landing at el toro mcas airstrip (closed). Inspection of aircraft revealed evidence of fuel leaking from the fuel cap, cap had one locking tab not engaged, and the fuel tanks were near empty. Pilot admitted he had checked fuel cap during preflight, and obviously did not seat cap correctly. Aircraft was refueled and returned to sna base. Interview with sunrise aviation president revealed fuel cap gasket had become hardened from exposure to fuel during aerobatic maneuvers, and fuel cap probably had heavy resistance to closing action. He stated this is a common condition, and application of fuel lube compound to the gasket restores function.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED WHEN RETURNING TO LEVEL FLIGHT FROM INVERTED AEROBATIC MANEUVER, ENGINE "BURBLED". PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT EL TORO MCAS AIRSTRIP (CLOSED). INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL CAP, CAP HAD ONE LOCKING TAB NOT ENGAGED, AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE NEAR EMPTY. PILOT ADMITTED HE HAD CHECKED FUEL CAP DURING PREFLIGHT, AND OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SEAT CAP CORRECTLY. AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AND RETURNED TO SNA BASE. INTERVIEW WITH SUNRISE AVIATION PRESIDENT REVEALED FUEL CAP GASKET HAD BECOME HARDENED FROM EXPOSURE TO FUEL DURING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, AND FUEL CAP PROBABLY HAD HEAVY RESISTANCE TO CLOSING ACTION. HE STATED THIS IS A COMMON CONDITION, AND APPLICATION OF FUEL LUBE COMPOUND TO THE GASKET RESTORES FUNCTION.
Other reports on N5535K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.