Service difficulty report · Fuel Sys · Rhnflu EA300L

Difficulty date
May 25, 2008
Submitted
July 24, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N22MW
Make and model
Rhnflu EA300L
Aircraft serial
131
Engine
Lyc AEIO540*
Part
Fuel Sys
Condition
Malfunctioned
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

APPROX 9 GALLONS OF FUEL IN CENTER TANK BECAME INACCESSIBLE DURING FLT, PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AFTER DEPARTING USING CENTER TANK FUEL FOR A 120 MILE FERRY FLIGHT, SWITCHED TO THE WING TANKS FOR THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE TRIP. NEARING THE DESTINATION WITH THE WING TANKS ALMOST DRY, SELECTED THE FUSELAGE TANK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT. THE FUEL FLOW METER INDICATED THAT AIR, RATHER THAN FUEL , WAS BEING DRAWN INTO THE SERVO. THE ENGINE STOPPED. RESELECTED THE WING TANKS; THE ENGINE RESTARTED. ATTEMPTED 4 MORE TIMES TO SOURCE FUEL FROM THE FUSELAGE; EACH TIME, THE ENGINE STOPPED. MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. MECH DECOWLED ACFT AND CONFIRMED THAT FUEL COULD BE SOURCED INTO THE SERVO FROM EITHER THE WING OR FUSELAGE TANK. STARTED ENGINE; IT RAN WITHOUT PROBLEM ON BOTH THE FUSELAGE AND WING TANKS. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE UPON LANDING WAS ABOUT 80 DEGREES. SUSPECT THAT MY ENROUTE ENCOUNTER WITH RAIN, FOLLOWED BY FREEZING TEMPERATURES, IS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED IN SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT.