Hi! Raimo/all
You make an interesting statement with regards to switching to the reserve
tank and got a clean filter to start up with , however I think you should
remember that on a much used aircraft the filling system always delivers
"the new shit " into the reserve side of the saddle tank and with the best
will in the world it is likely to always store water contamination in a
greater proportion than that on the main delivery side, so don't expect that
the reserve switch will always be your salvation! The water drain valves
need to be often tested on both sides . I did away with the standard glass
Europa issue filters and use TWO mini Andair gascolator filters one for each
saddle tank side.
After an overnight stay in pouring rain I took about half a litre of water
---From the reserve drain valve which I believe went into the tank through the
locking fuel cap so I try to tape up the entire filler cap when in rain .
This incident was at Zelam See (?and I don't think it was from their refuel
facility but who knows?
Best regards
Bob Harrison G-PTAG kit 337 Now Rotax 914 total airframe hours in excess of
1000.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Raimo Toivio
Sent: 01 September 2013 19:03
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Fuel filters
Carl and the rest of you who are interested in this topic,
I did it also. I cleaned my tank very careful several times (I had heard
warnings!). I pumped through the system at least 300 liters of fuel before
first flight.
Despite that - total hours 5 - I once pushed full power during cruise and my
Rotax went silent immediately. Fuel pressure went down. Over mountaineous
forest. My co-pilot was Jyrki Laukkanen, a famous test pilot (google!). We
looked each others and I elected to switch electric pump on AND changed to
reserve tank (and to another fuel filter also - how genious is that fuel
system - there is always a clean filter waiting!). That was an autonomious
reflex only.
Rotax fired up immediately.
Jyrki said later please never apply full power with a new construction or
after a major service if you are not above airfield! That makes sense.
He also said he is alive because after every service or repair he had had a
habit to fly at least 15 minutes over the field before heading to somewhere.
He had completed 9 forced landings and all over the runways, all succesful
and all because of service failure or service mistake.
That has happened during his career say 50 years.
My fuel filter was checked in lab. It was totally blocked by small particles
looking gold but they were identified to be shit from lay-upp processes.
My guess was they (those particles) were "glued"
to the tank inside surfaces by static forces.
That after I checked my fuel filter after EVERY flight. Flight by flight it
seemed to be cleaner and cleaner.
Today I check my filters say after every 10 hours - always clean.
When refueling I have only two alternatives:
1) Refuel 100LL direct to my ac in the airfield.
Systems are aircraft quality, classified and certified, filtered and
water-isolated.
2) Refuel autofuel 98E 0-5% alcohol from petrol stations w as good brand as
possible direct to MY canisters through Mr. Mc Funnels debris /water
isolator.
Since that scary action 2007, I have had never any more fuel problems.
I never clean my filters. I change them for new ones once a year (after
50-100 hrs service).
I do not use those original puzzle filters w several parts and glass tube.
One was broken during towing action and one was broken by itself in the
hangar.
I use original Rotax filters - they are throwaway models - transparent - one
piece - plastic non glass - you are not able to assemble them wrong way -
cheap - unbreakable.
Sold? How many you want?
Cheers,
Raimo Toivio
FINLAND
OH-XRT
-----Alkuperinen viesti-----
From: Carl Pattinson
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2013 2:21 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Fuel filters
Pattinson" <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Hi All,
I am surprised that anyone ever gets blocked
filters after the initial
shakedown. I know it is difficult to clean out
tanks after build but it's
definitely worth pumping a few gallons of fuel
through the system before
assuming everything is clean.
If you have dirty fuel in your tanks this is an
issue that should be
addressed first rather instead of relying on the
fuel filters to do their
job. I accept that some of us have less control
over what we put in our
tanks than others (ie: if you are purchasing fuel
at the airfield pumps).
In the early days I recall that clogged filters
were an issue for some
builders. The filters were becoming overwhelmed by
large amounts of crud
which should never have been there in the first
place - I do not believe
that changing the size of the filter mesh would
address this particular
issue.
Personally I never liked the factory system and
opted for a gascolator setup
instead - nothing fancy like an Andair, just the
cheap kit builders one
available from LAS or Aircraft Spruce (I priced
one at the LAA yesterday and
they are selling for 60) . The beauty of the
setup is that any large lumps
of crud (or water) tend to settle in the bottom of
the gascolator bowl and
will be drained off when you do your do your daily
fuel checks - very little
muck reaches the filter mesh at the top of the
bowl (this is a 120 micron
screen).
We are fortunate in that all our fuel is from cans
which we insist on
filtering through a fine mesh funnel and we have
never found any signs of a
clogged filter. It is worth noting that metal fuel
cans generate their own
debris as the internal paint on the cans tends to
flake off and if not
filtered would cause problems if not pre filtered.
For those who have to rely on airfield based
supplies if it should be
possible to carry a filter sock (wire or nylon
mesh) which could be dropped
down the fuel filler opening to ensure the
cleanliness of any external
sources of fuel. This could even be a permanent
installation.
Additionally as a backup, a fuel pressure gauge
which would give a visual
warning of low pressure due to a filter blockage.
Carl Pattinson
G-LABS
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On
Behalf Of Pete Lawless
Sent: 01 September 2013 11:08
Subject: Europa-List: Fuel filters
<pete@lawless.info>
Hi John
I have the original glass filters and am very
happy with them. In the first
few hours of a new Europa they do get blocked and
mine needed cleaning every
5 hours or so for the first 25 hours and on one
occasion at about 10 hours
caused fuel starvation on the climb out. Then
less frequently cleaning
until the tank settled down at about 100 hours. At
550 hours the filter now
need a clean about every 50 hours.
My filters are installed under the seats protected
by a Perspex cover, as
per the original Classic layout. I inspect them
BEFORE EVERY FLIGHT. The
beauty of the glass container is that you can see
what is going on, all that
is needed is to pull up the seat cushion and look.
Cleaning is very easy
you just change the filter screen for a new one
and wipe the inside of the
glass.
I would be very reluctant to install a filter unit
I could not inspect
without taking it to bits.
Pete
Classic #109 Rotax 912UL
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On
Behalf Of John Wighton
Sent: 01 September 2013 09:23
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Daily Mail report of
father and daughter fatality
<john@wighton.net>
The photos taken in 2002 of the crashed aircraft
are shocking and hopefully
not an indicator of the condition she was in at
the time of the accident.
But l have to say that if the level of neglect
extended to the systems,
especially the fuel system, the cause of the
incident may easily have been a
blocked filter. According to a close friend of
David, whom l spoke to
yesterday at the Rally, the accident occurred at
full power in the climb
out after refuelling. If so the classic case of
power starvation due to a
blocked filer is a possible cause. I note that
the photos show the inline
filter used is the standard glass tube variety.
Blockage of this type of
inline filter has caused many incidents and at
least one written off Europa.
Analysing this filter shows it uses a 22 micron
sized mesh. This is way
smaller than the 100 micron (largest) stipulated
by Rotax. I had a stoppage
due to a blocked primary filter (same type) a few
years ago, this led to a
hasty decent into Elstree using the reserve feed
(thanks for the fire cover
guys). The filter was partially blocked with
translucent material. It ran
on the ground but would not feed fuel to the
goverened 5000 rpm of my AP332
controller.
Having thereafter spent a year in a constant state
of fuel feed anxiety l
changed them for Andair filters which have a 60
micron filter size. To date
these have proven extremely reliable (100%).
In 2012 l contacted Andy at Andair to ask if a
version for 1/4in bore fuel
lines could be made. He said it was quite easy,
just a CNC program change,
the filters would then have a push-on nipple type
end and not require screw
fit unions (as in my installation). Some
discussion occurred with Andy
Draper about the mod.
Yesterday l checked with Andair, he had not got
around to adapting the CNC
code and hence nothing had occurred at LAA
Engineering.
If it turns out that the cause of the stoppage on
GBXS was filter related
(this is speculative but informed on my part) we
should support some action
which will lead to changes in the use of these
standard glass tube filters.
A possibility for Europas could be a new filter,
perhaps the Andair version.
I shall write to the LAA with my concerns over the
continued use of the
glass tube, 22. Micron filters. If any Europa
flyer, or other aircraft
operator with the same filter type, can supply
information regarding the use
of these filters it may assist in deciding which
way to go. Information
such as frequency of inspection, frequency of
cleaning, stoppage or partial
blockage info, leaks, other issues will br
gratefully received and treated
in confidence. Likewise any info showing
satisfactory in service history is
also welcome. Please post info or email direct to
me.
John(dot)wighton@ultraflight.net
John Wighton
Chief of Stress
Pilatus Aircraft
--------
John Wighton
Europa XS trigear G-IPOD
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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=407837#407837
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