Steve - if you get a tank developed I would like to get info on it - and
if you (or who you have fabricate them) are interested in selling them
please let me know. I am going to try this new tank I just installed but
have little faith in it -
Gary Leinberger
A237
gleinberger@millersville.edu
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Steve Hagar
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:52 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Fuel tank - bulges and leakage.
Arnold;
A143 has been down for awhile while I am developing an aluminum tank for
it. I got the leaks after draining gasoline from the tank. What
happens is that the tank expands and I am told that if it is drained it
shrinks back slightly. My crack developed right alonside one of the
layup straps in the saddle area. Get a small mechanics mirror and start
probing around. The bulges you are seeing in the spar aperature are
only an example of what happens to all of the surfaces of the tank.
When I cut my tank out of the cockpit seatback the top of the tank was
all rippled where it had expanded and was constrained by the top of the
seat back. The back flat surface also exhibited thesame phenomenon it
was just constrained by the cockpit section.
Steve Hagar
N40 SH
Mesa AZ
----- Original Message -----
From: Arnold Kr. Hansen <mailto:arno-k@online.no>
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: 4/29/2008 1:26:26 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Fuel tank - bulges and leakage.
Hi,
Shortly before start of taxiing, it was discovered that fuel was
coming out of the fuselage on my Europa XS trigear (LN-ABM), through the
access holes below the tank. Draining of the tank was started and the
leakage stopped when 20 - 25 litres were remaining in the tank.
Two days before I had drained the tank completely since the
aircraft had been stationary (in a heated hangar) since 1. july 2006
with app. 35 litres of mogas in the tank. The day of start up I filled
18 litres and checked all hose connections. Started the engine and
runned it for 5 minutes to check hose connections to the recently
installed oil thermostat. Then filled another 36 litres of mogas and
started the engine for the local flight.
Removing the wings, it was revealed that the tank front facing
the wing spars, had great bulges, bulges inwards and outwards, and the
centre one touching the aileron cross tube, see attached picture. I have
not yet localized the crack, but I suspect the saddle section just ahead
of the fibreglass bracket. To me the in and out shape of the bulges
indicate compression stresses due to material expansion (caused by the
fuel applied, 95 octane mogas?). And I think the crack is caused by
shear stresses just forward of the bracket mentioned.
I will appreciate comments and advice. At present I do not trust
the material, polyethylene, used in the tank. Has anybody applied metal
tanks?
Regards
Arnold Kr. Hansen
Europa XS trigear, Kit No.381
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