Service difficulty report · Baffle · Cessna 172F

Difficulty date
March 14, 2003
Submitted
March 14, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5134F
Make and model
Cessna 172F
Aircraft serial
17252909
Aircraft time
12,773 hours
Engine
Cont O300*
Part
Baffle
Condition
Broken
Location
Rt Fuel Tank
Part time
12,773 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.

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