Greetings from Kenya. I've saved up a few questions for the network,
perhaps someone out there can help.
1. New regulations here dictate that we must now all fly with 406 ELT,
and especially recommended is the Artex 406 (PLBs will not do here).
This requires that for composite aircraft, the skin of the aircraft must
have radial metallic strips, 1 inch wide, in the shape of a 6-point
star, extending out for 24 inches in all directions. Seems a bit
excessive for a Europa, where can we find that space? Behind bagage bay
is obvious best bet. Will alumnium strips work (I have sticky aluminium
tape, 2" wide). Has anyone fitted this arrangement? Does anyome have a
mod approval, STC or something for the Artex 406 installation in a
Europa, that I can wave at aviation officialdom here?
2. My tailwheel goes through bearings at the rate of knots, must be our
dusty runways. But it is costly to fit new tailwheels, when the tyre
itself is fine. Has anyone tried to fit the bearings available from
Aircraft Spruce into the Europa tailwheel?
3. Two weeks ago I got into the Europa (Classic, 912UL), started up,
and had very rough running. Under the hood, found that the left carb
was leaking back through the connection to the plenum chamber, theres a
small hole for water clearance, and fuel was pouring onto the ground.
Further investigation revealed that all this seems to be because of an
overflowing float chamber. The float 'needle' (with viton tip) looks
absolutely clean, no grooves on its face, but no adjustment of the float
bracket will stop the flow. The floats are fine. Has anyone had this
problem after just 500 hours of flying? The fuel goes through an Andair
gascolator upstream, so I am not sure what contamination caused this.
Thanks, and all best to all for the New Year!
Richard
Europa 168, Kenya.
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