Service difficulty report · Bladder · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
May 5, 2007
Submitted
January 21, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
7,838 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Bladder
Condition
Incorrect
Location
Fuel Tank
Part time
7,400 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) AC IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND FUEL DRAINED FROM AC. DID NOT GET ANY FUEL FROM THIS QUICK DRAIN SO ADDED FUEL TO TANK AND OBSERVED A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE COVER PLATE IN BOTTOM OF WING UNDER THE TANK AND LOCATION OF QUICK-DRAIN. MAINT REMOVED COVER AND FOUND THE QUICK DRAIN NOT CONNECTED TO FUEL BLADDER. FOUND THAT SOMEONE HAD THREADED A BOLT INTO THE BLADDER AND HAD REDUCED THE LENGTH OF CONNECTOR TO THE QUICK DRAIN SO THE COVER PLATE WOULD FIT BACK IN PLACE. NO SNAG ON AIRCRAFT ADDRESSING THIS AND NO WAY FUEL COULD HAVE BEEN SUMPED FROM THIS TANK. FUEL BLADDER TANK WAS REMOVED AND SERVICEABLE BLADDER INSTALLED. (TC NR 20070516004)

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