SAIB CE-03-11

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration CE-03-11 December 13, 2002 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, an owner or operator of the Vulcanair (Partenavia) P68 Series aircraft, that Vulcanair has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 113 dated June 24, 2002. This Service Bulletin is written to alert owners and operators of initial and repetitive checks of the Fuel Selector Control system. Repetitive checks of the system for correct operation are recommended at 100 hour intervals and any time one or more of the following conditions become evident:

• Cabin fuel selector knob is stiff and difficult to operate,

• The detent indicating the correct valve position is no longer perceptible,

• Anomalous fuel level readings between tanks that can not be attributed to different engine fuel consumption as indicated by the fuel flow gauge, or to evident fuel leakage,

• Uncommanded fuel transfer between tanks in cases where the aircraft has been parked on an unleveled surface. This condition may be noted by an evident imbalance of the aircraft (one wing low).

This Service Bulletin was written because of several reports of malfunctions or improper fuel selector valve control system rigging. The malfunction of the fuel selector valve, P/N SM2546, can occur due to incorrect rigging of the fuel selector valve control system. This condition could lead to improper engine fuel supply.

Background The Italian Airworthiness Authority, Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC), has issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) number RAI - AD 2002-415 dated August 12, 2002, specifying these initial and repetitive checks.

Per the Vulcanair MSB No. 113 and the RAI AD, all of the P68 series aircraft are involved.

Recommendation We highly recommend that you accomplish the actions of Vulcanair MSB No. 113 dated June 24, 2002, as soon as possible.

For Further Information Contact Doug Rudolph, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE 112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone (816) 329-4059; fax (816) 329-4090; e-mail: doug.rudolph@faa.gov Copies of Vulcanair Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 113 dated June 24, 2002, can be obtained from Vulcanair S.p.A., Via G. Pascoli, 7 - 80026 Casoria (NA); Italy; Telephone: 39 081 5918143;

Fax: 39 081 5918172 OR USA telephone: (703) 393-8664; fax: (703) 393-1454.