Service difficulty report · B-Nut · Kamov KA32A1

Difficulty date
December 6, 2010
Submitted
March 15, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Kamov KA32A1
Aircraft time
15,957 hours
Engine
Klimov TB3117BMA
Part
B-Nut
Condition
Broken
Location
Fuel Line
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, B
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING CRUISE WHILE ON A TRANSIT FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT CREW NOTICED FUEL FUMES AT THE SAME TIME THAT ONE OF THE EXTENDED RANGE AUXILARY FUEL TANKS EMPTIED. ALTHOUGH THIS MAY OCCUR PERIODICALLY ON THIS TYPE OF INSTALLATION, THE COMMAND PILOT (PIC) HAD THE ONBOARD ENGINEER INVESTIGATE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TANK WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FUMES BUT FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED RAW FUEL BEING VENTED FROM A UNKNOWN SOURCE EXTERNALLY FROM THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE AREA. THE PIC CARRIED OUT THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST, SECURED THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE AS IT WAS THE SUSPECTED SOURCE OF THE FUEL LEAK AND FUMES. THE PIC DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE ATC FOR COLUMBIAN AS THEY HAD JUST ENTERED THEIR AIRSPACE AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT UNEVENTFULLY. THE ONBOARD ENGINEER DISCOVERED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FUEL FUMES AND LEAK WAS FROM A FUEL BYPASS RETURN LINE ON THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE. THE LINE WAS REPAIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AC43.13-1B CHG 1 CHAPTER 9 PARA 9-306. KAMOV LETTER REF. 1.VIH.1104 STATES THAT AC43.13 IS APPROVED DATA FOR REPAIRS TO THE KA32A11BC. FOLLOWING THE REPAIR, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.