Service difficulty report · Cap · Bell 407

Difficulty date
June 8, 2001
Submitted
June 8, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53444
Aircraft time
35 hours
Part
Cap
Part number
206362002103
Condition
Binding
Location
Fuel Cell
Part time
35 hours
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

FUEL FILLER CAP DOES NOT SEAT PROPERLY DUE TO CLOSE TOLERANCE BETWEEN AIRFRAME SPACERS AND CAP. THIS OCCURS 8 OR 9 TIMES OUT OF TEN CLOSURES. THE FUEL LEAKS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE AIRFRAME AND GETS SUCKED INTO AIR CONDITIONING FAN THRU CONDENSER. FUEL SPRAY BECOMES PRESSURIZED SPRAYING UP INTO AFT COMPARTMENTS BELOW BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AIRCRAFT INVERTERS ALSO WET WITH FUEL SPRAY, COULD BE SOURCE OF IGNITION AND POSSIBLE IN FLIGHT FIRE. RECOMMENDATION, OPEN UP CLEARANCE BETWEEN CAP DIAMETER AND AIRFRAME SPACERS. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS HAD PART 1 OF ASB 407-01-41 INCORPORATED.

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