Service difficulty report · Float · Amtr KITFOX

Difficulty date
February 13, 2018
Submitted
July 10, 2018
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5929
Make and model
Amtr KITFOX
Aircraft serial
1001
Engine
Rotax ROTAX912S2
Part
Float
Part number
861182
Condition
Saturated
Location
Carburetor
Component
Carburetor
Component part number
64
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

FOLLOWING A.7 HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THROTTLE WAS REDUCED FOR DESCENT. IMMEDIATELY ENGINE BEGAN ROUGH RUNNING. ENGINE INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED NUMBER 1 NOT FIRING EGT DROP. THROTTLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED AND ENGINE SMOOTHED OUT TO NORMAL OPERATION. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS NOTED DURING REMAINDER OF FLIGHT, I.E. DESCENT AND LANDING. CARBURETOR FLOATS WERE REMOVED AND WEIGHED: 12.8 GRAMS COMBINED WT OF BOTH RIGHT CARBURETOR FLOATS; 10.6 GRAMS COMBINED WT OF BOTH LEFT CARBURETOR FLOATS. WEIGHTS SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDED ACCEPTABLE LIMITS--7 GRAMS COMBINED WEIGHT PER SET (REF SB 91-065 UL) NEW FLOATS INSTALLED. TEST RUN DEMONSTRATED NORMAL OPERATION. THIS SN 912 ULS2-01 HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS ROTAX ALERT SERVICE BULLETINS. ITS NOTEWORTHY TO MENTION I USE AUTO ETHANOL BLEND FUEL, CHEVRON 92 OCTANE, SPECIFICALLY. EVEN THOUGH ROTAX APPROVES THE USE OF ETHANOL BLEND FUEL UP TO 15%, I WONDER IF ETHANOL IS A FACTOR IN FLOAT SATURATION.