Service difficulty report · Sending Unit · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
October 12, 2012
Submitted
October 12, 2012
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3144V
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft serial
172S9123
Engine
Lyc IO360L2A
Propeller
Mcauly 1A170E
Part
Sending Unit
Part number
S3852X
Condition
Faulty
Location
Fuel Qty
Part time
15 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
N, J
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

MANY OF THE FUEL QUANTITY SENDERS USED ON THE "RESTART" LOSE CONTINUITY MOMENTARILY OR FOR SOME SECONDS/PART OF A MINUTE SO AS TO CAUSE THE FUEL QUANTITY NEEDLE TO DESCEND TOWARD ZERO AND TRIGGER THE "LOW FUEL LIGHT" ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL. THIS EFFECT MAY BE FOR ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IAW FLIGHT OR MANY TIMES IAW FLIGHT AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MOSTLY WITH THE TANKS ABOVE HALF QUANTITY. OBSERVED THIS EFFECT ON MANY ACFT AS A MECHANIC AND PILOT. THIS EFFECT GREATLY AFFECTS SAFETY BY DISTRACTING THE PILOT'S ATTENTION DURING SOMETIMES A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT.

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