Service difficulty report · Baffle · Cessna R172E

Difficulty date
March 14, 2003
Submitted
March 14, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7892N
Make and model
Cessna R172E
Aircraft serial
R1720283
Engine
Cont IO360*
Part
Baffle
Condition
Broken
Location
Fuel Tank
Part time
14,797 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: FRONT FACE OF THE BAFFLE IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH BEHIND FUEL TANK FILLER PORT.DURING REFUELING PROCESS, IF FUEL NOZZLE IS RELAXED, NOZZLE CONTACTS BAFFLE AND APPLIES EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO BAFFLE EVENTUALLY BREAKING SPOT WELDS LOOSE. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES: DURING THE REFUEL PROCESS, DO NOT INSERT FUEL NOZZLE MORE THAN 3 INCHES INTO THE FUEL TANK. THIS DEFECT WAS FOUND IN 4 OUT OF 8 A/C.

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