Service difficulty report · Retainer · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
June 21, 2000
Submitted
January 19, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
7,869 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Part
Retainer
Part number
531035
Condition
Separated
Location
Fuel Cap
Stage of operation
TO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D, K
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING REFUELED, THE GAS ATTENDANT HAD ROTATED THE GAS CAP TO REMOVE THE CAP. THIS ACTION IN TURN ROTATED THE RETAINER (P/N 531-035), CAUSING IT TO BECOME UNLOCKED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE CAP WAS THEN PUT BACK ON AND LOCKED DOWN GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF BEING LOCKED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED ON TAKEOFF THE GAS CAP CAME OFF. THE RETAINER IS WHAT THE FUEL CAP LOCKS ONTO AND BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER LOCKED ONTO THE FILLER NECK THE CAP JUST FELL OFF. IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THE LOCKS ON THE RETAINER HAD TO BE BENT DOWN MORE TO PROVIDE A MORE SUITABLE LOCK FOR THE RETAINER. THREE OF THE FUEL CAPS ON THE AIRCRAFT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

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