Service difficulty report · Pump · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
October 17, 2007
Submitted
October 31, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N515MS
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
2842157
Engine
Lyc O320*
Part
Pump
Part number
35328803
Condition
Malfunctioned
Location
Fuel Boost
Part time
2,750 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

REPORTED ENGINE QUITTING DURING NORMAL CRUISE, PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH FUEL SYSTEM, ONCE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP TURNED ON ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL, FUEL PRESS READINGS CONFIRMED FUEL STARVATION PROBLEM, INITIAL INSPECTIONS FAILED TO FIND A PROBLEM & COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, REPLACED EDP WITH NEW & FLEW ACFT, PROBLEM REOCCURRED & APPEARED TO BE ISOLATED TO THE RT SIDE FUEL TANK SELECTION, REMOVED FUEL LINE AT CARB & PUMPED FUEL USING BOOST PUMP, MONITORED FLOW RATE FOR BOTH RT AND LT TANKS, INSTALLED VACUUM GAUGE IN SYSTEM AT GASCOLATOR AND MONITORED AMOUNT OF SUCTION CREATED FOR BOTH THE LT & RT, PROBLEM FINALLY DUPLICATED WHILE MONITORING & PUMPING FUEL, FOUND PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED TO ONE SIDE BUT WOULD OCCUR ON EITHER TANK, PROBLEM ELIMINATED ALL FUEL FLOW FROM THE BOOST PUMP, REMOVED ELECT PUMP AND CHECKED BOTH INTERNAL CHECK VALVES, FOUND ONE OF THE TWO STUCK CLOSED IN A MANNER THAT WASN`T ALLOWING FUEL THROUGH THE PUMP, REPLACED THE CHECK VALVE WITH A USED VALVE AS REMOVED FROM A USED PUMP PREVIOUSLY REMOVED DUE TO INTERMITTENT PUMPING ACTION, (HAD TO RAP IT TO GET IT STARTED ON OCCASION), REINSTALLED PUMP AND TESTED NORMAL. TEST FLIGHT CONDUCTED AND FUEL PRESS MONITORED, NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED, AIRCRAFT RELEASE TO NORMAL SERVICE. THIS FUEL SYSTEM IS DEPENDANT ON THE FUEL FLOWING THROUGH THE ELECT FUEL PUMP EVEN WHEN THE PUMP IS SHUTOFF. SINCE THE CHECK VALVE, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR PROPER ELECT. PUMP USE, WAS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP HAD NO FUEL AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP. IT IS ASSUMED THAT TURNING ON THE ELECT. PUMP WOULD DISLODGE THE CHECK VALVE ALLOWING FUEL FLOW ONCE AGAIN. HAD THE CHECK VALVE FAILED AS IT DID DURING MAINT. THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL STARVATION SINCE THE ELEC PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY AND NO LONGER ALLOWED FUEL THROUGH THE CAVITY DURING THE MAINT. (K)

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