Service difficulty report · Wire · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
August 30, 2010
Submitted
January 4, 2011
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft time
4,112 hours
Engine
Lyc IO360L2A
Propeller
Mcauly 1A170E
Part
Wire
Condition
Damaged
Location
Sending Unit
Part time
605 hours
Component
Sending Unit
Component part number
S38521
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
N
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

FUEL CAP ATTACH CHAIN BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TAB ON THE FILLER NECK ALLOWING THE LOOSE END TO FALL INTO THE TANK STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAP. THE LOOSE END OF THE CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND THE FINE WIRE ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS CAUSED THE WIRE TO BECOME DISLODGED WHICH OPENED THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CAUSING AN "EMPTY" READING ON THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE AND THE "LOW FUEL ANNUNCIATOR" TO ILLUMINATE.

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