Service difficulty report · Fuel Bowl · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
February 17, 2023
Submitted
February 17, 2023
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N9250C
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
287816451
Aircraft time
11,482 hours
Engine
Lyc O320D3G
Engine time
4,134 hours
Propeller
Snsnch M74DM
Part
Fuel Bowl
Part number
6347900
Part serial
NONSERIALIZED
Condition
Cocked
Location
Zone 100
Part time
11,482 hours
Component
Gascolator Assy · Piper · NONE
Component part number
3571503
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
B

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

What was found

DISCREPANCY: GASCOLATOR FUEL BOWL FOUND TO BE COCKED OUTBOARD AND RETAINING/TENSION NUT ASSY COCKED INBOARD UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, WITH OUTBOARD RETAINING BAIL DISLODGED FROM GASCOLATOR. SAFETY WIRE ON RETAINING/TENSION NUT CORRECT AND INTACT. LOSS OF DIRECTED TENSION FROM BOTTOM OF FUEL BOWL CAUSED LOSS OF SEAL BETWEEN FUEL BOWL LIP AND FUEL BOWL GASKET, RESULTING IN MAJOR FUEL SYSTEM LEAK AND LOSS OF ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE LEADING TO ENGINE STARVATION AND INTERMITTENT FAILURE. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: FUEL BOWL AND RETAINING/TENSION NUT ASSY REALIGNED; RETAINING BAIL REINSERTED INTO GASCOLATOR; RETAINING/TENSION NUT SAFETIED TO RETAINING BAIL; RETAINING BAILS BOTH SAFETIED TOGETHER AND TO TOP OF GASCOLATOR. AIRCRAFT FLOWN TO MAINTENANCE FACILITY. GASCOLATOR ASSY R/R. ALL AFOREMENTIONED SAFETIES REAPPLIED. POSSIBLE CAUSES: (SPECULATIVE) (1)FORCEFUL FUEL SAMPLING MAY HAVE PUSHED FUEL BOWL SAMPLE VALVE INTO CONTACT WITH ENGINE COWLING. ENGINE VIBRATION INFLIGHT COCKS FUEL BOWL, DISPLACING RETAINING/TENSION NUT ASSY AND RETAINING BAIL, CAUSING MISHAP. (2) FORCEFUL FUEL SAMPLING DISLODGES RETAINING BAIL. ENGINE VIBRATION INFLIGHT COCKS FUEL BOWL AND RETAINING/TENSION NUT ASSY, CAUSING MISHAP. ***** NOTE, CYCLES LISTED BELOW ARE NOT TRACKED, COMPONENT BELIEVED TO BE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT

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