Service difficulty report · Fuel Cell · Beech 95B55

Difficulty date
July 27, 2007
Submitted
January 21, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Beech 95B55
Aircraft time
2,616 hours
Engine
Cont IO470L
Propeller
Hartzl PHCC3YF2
Part
Fuel Cell
Part number
369200157
Condition
Deteriorated
Location
Rt Wing
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) THE RT WING LEADING EDGE FUEL CELL WAS REMOVED BECAUSE OF A FUEL LEAK. A REPLACEMENT FUEL CELL WAS ORDERED. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE NEW (OVERHAULED) CELL, IT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO CONTAIN A LARGE QUANTITY OF SAWDUST-LIKE PARTICLES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE FUEL CELL STILL HAD THE FOAM FILLED FUEL RESERVOIR INSIDE. THIS FOAM WAS BREAKING DOWN. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH MFG TECH SUPPORT IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT AD68-26-06 HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH AT SOME POINT OF TIME WHICH REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF FUEL RESERVOIRS TO PREVENT ENGINE POWER LOSS DURING STEEP TURNS ON TAKEOFF. THESE RESERVOIRS HAD A FOAM INSERT WHICH WAS COMPATIBLE WITH 100/130 FUEL. THE USE OF 100LL HOWEVER CAUSES THE FOAM TO BREAK DOWN INTO FINE PARTICLES THAT GET TRAPPED IN FILTERS AND SCREENS, AND POTENTIALLY CLOGGING THEM. THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED IN SB NR 2109 WHICH REPLACES THE OLD STYLE FOAM WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS SUITABLE FOR USE WITH 100LL. SB SHOULD BE AN AD TO ALERT OTHER MAINTAINERS OF THIS PROBLEM WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE SB. BOTH FUEL CELL RESERVOIRS NOW HAVE THE FOAM REPLACED AND FUEL FILTERS, STRAINERS AND INJECTORS CLEANED IAW SB NR 2109.

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