Friday, October 22, 2010

Fuel filter who could be deadly

A fouga Specialist installed a fuel filter on a Fouga located around the center of the United States.

When I went to just give a check on the aircraft, I found that the fuel filter bypass indicator was sticking out..
When we checked the fuel filter, the bypass was installed upside down.
We replaced the fuel filter with a new one, reset the bypass, safetied, and leak checked .

The big problem is if a filter bypass is installed upside down, engines at full power, will result a stop of fuel flow to the engines after 50 seconds.
So if after take off the full power was maintained on that aircraft, both engines would have stop after liftoff.

This is why the pilot have to check the fuel bypass indicator before each flight, for fuel contamination or if the fuel filter bypass was improperly installed after maintenance action.

Reference GCE 103-2 fiche analytique #2411

Weight and Balance

Sorry guys but all the fougas that I saw did not have a curent weight and balance.
Stall speed, spin recovery, take off and landing configuration....
It can be a problem and it could be deadly.
If you want some infos how to do the real weight and balance for the fouga and the envelope let me know.
A emergency check is to put a scale under the nose tire, have the main tanks full , and you should have a weight of +- 70lbs on the scale under the nose tire.
But you will be required to do a real and accurate weight and balance.