Service difficulty report · Shutoff Valve · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
April 12, 2016
Submitted
April 12, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N172AE
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
3839
Part
Shutoff Valve
Part number
55103G
Condition
Out Of Position
Location
Fuel System
Part time
4,245 hours, 8,625 cycles
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 A 12-YEAR INSPECTION, THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS FOUND CLOCKED IN A WAY THAT PREVENTED THE VALVE FROM FULLY CLOSING DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE MGB, AFT LT SUSPENSION BAR. IAW AMM, CHAPTER 28-21-00, 4-2 VALVE INSTALLATION, THERE IS A NOTE ABOUT THE CLEARANCE WITH THE SUSPENSION BAR. EVERY ACFT HAS THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE FUNCTIONAL TEST, COMPLETED DURING A 600-FH/24-MONTH INSPECTION, REF MSM CHAPTER 05-22-00; AND AMM 28-21-00, 5-2), BUT AN INSPECTION OF THE CLEARANCE IS NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED DURING THIS CHECK, NOR DURING ANY OTHER CHECK AT THAT INSPECTION PERIOD. THIS CLEARANCE ISSUE IS AN AREA OF CONCERN FOR OTHER ACFT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD PREVENT THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM BEING SHUTOFF TO THE ENGINE DURING AN EMERGENCY. TO HELP ELIMINATE THIS OCCURRENCE, AN IMMEDIATE INITIAL CHECK OF THE VALVE IS WARRANTED, AND RECURRING CHECKS AT THE 600-FH/24-MONTH INSPECTION INTERVAL SHOULD INCLUDE CHECKING THE VALVE FOR CLEARANCE WITH THE SUSPENSION BAR.