Service difficulty report · Baffle · Cessna 172H

Difficulty date
March 14, 2003
Submitted
March 14, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4977R
Make and model
Cessna 172H
Aircraft serial
56331
Aircraft time
12,028 hours
Engine
Cont O300*
Part
Baffle
Condition
Broken
Location
Fuel Cells
Part time
12,028 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

DURING VISUAL INSPECTION, FOUND FUEL TANK BAFFLE SPOT WELDS BROKEN LOOSE, ALLOWING BAFFLE TO MOVE AROUND FREELY INSIDE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL STARVATION DURING A DECENT WITH A LOW FUEL QUANTITY AND COULD CAUSE ERRONEOUS FUEL QUANTITY INDICATIONS DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH TRANSMITTER FLOAT. PROBABLE CAUSE: THE FRONT FACE OF THE BAFFLE IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH BEHIND FUEL TANK FILLER PORT. DURING THE REFUELING PROCESS, IF THE FUEL NOZZLE IS RELAXED, THE NOZZLE CONTACTS THE BAFFLE AND APPLIES EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BAFFLE EVENTUALLY BREAKING THE SPOT WELDS LOOSE. DURING THE REFUEL PROCESS, DO NOT INSERT FUEL NOZZLE MORE THAN 3 INCHES INTO THE FUEL TANK.

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