Service difficulty report · Drain · Mooney M20K

Difficulty date
June 11, 2015
Submitted
April 22, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Mooney M20K
Aircraft time
4,827 hours
Engine
Cont TSIO360LB
Part
Drain
Part number
F39172
Condition
Wrong Part
Location
Fuel Tank
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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) OWNER ASK TO HAVE A FUEL LEAK REPAIRED AND COMPLAINED THAT FUEL DRAINING WAS VERY SLOW. AFTER DRAINING TANKS IT WAS NOTED THAT AN UNAPPROVED REPAIR HAD BEEN UNDERTAKEN AND THE SEALANT APPLIED COVERED THE DRAIN CHANNEL TO THE QUICK DRAIN. IN ORDER FOR FUEL TO DRAIN A LONGER DRAIN WAS INSTALLED P/N: F391-72 (LEFT IN THE PICTURE) AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED ABOUT 1 INCH OF WATER TO ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. THE CORRECT DRAIN IS F391-53S (MIDDLE OF PICTURE) WHICH IS MUCH SHORTER. THE STEEL DRAIN BOSS (RIGHT IN THE PICTURE) WAS SITTING FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME IN THE WATER AND WAS BADLY CORRODED WITH SUBSTANTIAL RUST RESIDUE LEFT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANKS. NEW DRAIN VALVES AND DRAIN BOSSES INSTALLED AND SEALED. LOG BOOKS DID NOT RECORD ANY MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR OF THE FUEL TANKS. THE NEW OWNER REPORTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY WATER WHEN DRAINING THE FUEL.

More about the Mooney M20K