SDR ATL07LA057

Service difficulty report · Fuel Cell · Beech 95B55

Difficulty date
March 19, 2007
Submitted
November 29, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N500JP
Make and model
Beech 95B55
Aircraft serial
2396
Aircraft time
3,210 hours
Engine
Cont IO470*
Part
Fuel Cell
Condition
Leaking
Location
Rt Wing
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, A
Precautionary procedure
E, D

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

What was found

DURING START OF RT ENGINE, PILOT REPORTED HEARING A LOUD THUMP, NOTED FIRE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE RT COWLING. SHUTDOWN ENGINES, EVACUATED AIRCRAFT, AND NOTED APPARENT EXPLOSION HAD OCCURRED IN RT WING. VISUAL INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL CAUSE OF EVENT. WING STILL HELD APPROXIMATELY 40 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WAS NOT LEAKING ALTHOUGH BOX CELL LINER HAD BEEN CRACKED OPEN FROM FORCE OF EXPLOSION. FUEL TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED AND WING WAS FULLY TOPPED OFF TO INSPECT FOR LEAKS; NONE WERE NOTED. AIR IN RT FUEL SYSTEM WAS DISPLACED AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES A LEAK WAS DETECTED IN THE RT WHEEL WELL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS LEAK WAS ORIGINATING FROM A B-NUT ON THE OUTPUT SIDE OF THE AUXILIARY PUMP FUEL FILTER. LEAK MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 3 DROPS PER MINUTE AND WAS COLLECTING INSIDE WHEEL WELL AND SHOWED EVIDENCE OF TRAILING THROUGHOUT SPAR AREA. IN ADDITION TO THE FUEL LEAKING IN THIS AREA, IT WAS NOTED THE RT ENGINE, OB EXHAUST STACK WAS POINTED IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER THAT DIRECTED IT STRAIGHT TO THE AREA IN WHICH THE FUEL WAS LEAKING.

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