Dan,
An update on the fuel vent and fuel slop issue.
I filled the aircraft this morning. At the same time I again filled
the area behind the passenger with about a gallon of avgas. BUT, this
time I was able to determine the source of the problem. It was NOT
the vent system. When I was planning to install the aux fuel tank, I
put in all the fittings. Later, my wife explained that if I put the
aux tank in, she wasn't flying. She liked the fact that the Europa
would have to stop every three hours, she didn't want the ability to
fly for 5+ hours. Also, any reduction in baggage payload was TOTALLY
unacceptable. So, no aux tank. I pretty much stopped installing.
Dumb move. I had installed the vent hose and self-closing fitting for
the aux tank, but I didn't put the hose and self-closing fitting on
the fuel inlet. The little barb fitting was just sticking out between
the main fuel inlet and the upper vent fitting. (BTW, remember, 8
folks, all homebuilders, went over this aircraft with fine-toothed
combs and all missed this one) When I'd run fuel in too fast one of
the ways to relieve pressure was to blow fuel out that little barbed
fitting and into the back well area. Also, when the tank was filled,
any excess fuel burbled out of the little barbed fitting into this area.
By installing the tube with the self closing fitting the fuel spill
issue should be corrected. The aircraft is presently open and
allowing any residual fuel to evaporate.
This does not correct the slow fuel vent problem. When filling today,
I noticed that the tank was venting out of the normal vent system. I
could tell because it would occasionally burp out a significant
quantity of fuel. The fuel wasn't an issue as it stayed in the fuel
filler and just ran back into the tank. Still, the vent is slow and
can't keep up with the ability of of the pump to introduce fuel into
the tank. If you have any way to increase the size of the vent lines
(maybe 3/8"?), I'd recommend doing it.
I'm adding the europa-list to the address because I'd like to post
this on my site. Unfortunaltely my main computer with all my good
software crapped out on Thursday while I was uploading first flight
video to You Tube. Had to take it into the Apple Store for fix'n'.
Won't be able to do any further image work and upload till the Big Mac
is back at home. I'm hoping that it will be ready on Sunday or Monday.
Check six,
Bob Borger
http://www.europaowners.org/N914XL (TT 15 min)
Europa XS, Short Wing, Intercooled Rotax 914
rlborger@mac.com
Cel: 817-992-1117
On Feb 5, 2009, at 5:37 PM, Dan Bish wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>
> Congrats again on the successful flight of your baby!
>
> I was wondering what you did to correct the fuel filler vent
> problem. I have the same setup.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan
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