Service difficulty report · Reservoir · Cessna 172R

Difficulty date
September 15, 2000
Submitted
October 12, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N172QS
Make and model
Cessna 172R
Aircraft serial
17280440
Part
Reservoir
Part number
051600918
Condition
Cracked
Location
Lower, L/E
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

PILOT REPORTED FUEL DRIPPING FROM UNDER ACFT. MECH DETERMINED IT WAS DRAIN VALVE. DRAIN VALVE REPLACED. FUEL CONTINUED TO DRIP FROM THE VALVE. INVEST SHOWED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE LOWER LEADING EDGE SEAM OF THE RESERVOIR TANK. AFTER REMOVAL, 2 INCH CRACK IN THE WELD WAS VISIBLE UPON INSP. NO OBVIOUS CAUSE OF THE FRACTURE WAS VISIBLE. POSSIBLE CAUSE MAY BE FROM RESERVOIR TANK FLEXING FROM BUILT-UP VENT PRESSURE AND THE WEIGHT OF THE FUEL. INSP OF THIS ITEM ON A SCHEDULED BASIS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TO DETERMINE CONDITION. SUBMITTER STATED IF SEAM WOULD FAIL DURING FLIGHT, ALL FUEL ONBOARD WOULD BE LOST AND ENGINE WOULD STARVE FOR FUEL. (X)

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