SDR FFKA142

Service difficulty report · Line · Piper PA32300

Difficulty date
October 29, 2009
Submitted
November 11, 2009
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N631BW
Make and model
Piper PA32300
Aircraft serial
327340041
Aircraft time
10,519 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540K1A5
Engine time
1,397 hours
Part
Line
Part number
6770052
Condition
Cracked
Location
Fuel System
Part time
10,519 hours
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

PILOT REPORTED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF COCKPIT AND THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE HAD SUDDENLY DROPPED INTO THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE YELLOW RANGE. EVEN WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP THE PRESSURE DID NOT CHANGE. PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY CHANGE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. MX INSPECTED THE FUEL PRESSURE SYS AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE HARD LINE THAT SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE JUST BEFORE IT ENTERS THE CABIN AREA.

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