Your point is well presented Wayne, but in my opinion the story really is more about using Permatex on the threads and putting the drain in finger tight, and probably forgetting to wrench it tight. To assume that a properly installed drain would come loose from the Permatex melting in a non approved gascolater any sooner than in an approved one, probably is a stretch. I would like to read the NTSB "story" as well, do you have a date or an N number for the accident plane?
--- In [email protected], "Wayne Woollard" <wooll...@...> wrote: > > Coupers: > I normally keep my information to myself and lurk on these pages. This is due > to situations that are past history, However I see more and more Coupers > ignoring the federal regulations and attempting to do their own work, and > severely modifying their aircraft. "Home Depot Aircraft Supply" is not where > I would shop for parts to modify my certified aircraft in any manner. Nor > would I select a non certificated shop to rebuild any item that was on the > airframe equipment list that is specific to my airplane. That is if you > expect life to return to normal for you heirs should an "Incident" occur. > I speak from experience. > Many years ago I was involved in an "Incident" that resulted in severe damage > to an Ercoupe. In rebuilding this particular aircraft it was found that the > gascolator was clogged with debris, and gunk from age. A new gascolator was > purchased from an aircraft supplier known to many in the flying public. (Not > a supplier I have ever heard mentioned here) the Gascolator was not approved > for use on aircraft, although it was purchased from an aircraft supplier and > was in every way a duplicate of an Ercoupe Gascolator with the exception of > replacement of the fragile glass bowl with a metal casting supplied with a > quick drain. $69.95 at the time (1991) Six flying hours later I was in a > hospital, and my airplane was lying flat on it's back in a plowed field. > It was found during the FAA inspection of the airplane that 100 octane low > lead fuel dissolved the "Permatex" seal where the quick drain screwed into > the bowl and the quick drain had fallen out, causing immediate exhausting of > the fuel from the header tank. This resulted in the remaining 3 forces that > control flight to take over from the lack of thrust, there upon, The Earth > rose up to smite me. > I received a reprimand from the FAA, the Mechanic was fined $750 and > suspended for 90 days. > Maybe the FAA was more strict almost 20 years ago, and maybe the people that > worked there were more knowledgeable about General aviation regulations, but > this did happen, and I followed the rules. I purchased from a reputable > aircraft supplier what I thought to be a certifiable replacement part, and > gave it to a mechanic who also was current on his certification to install on > my airplane. > I make darned sure, impeccably, that every part that goes on my airplane is > FAA/PMA approved, or can be directly traced to a point of origin. > My life insurance carrier informed me that they would not have been required > to pay had this "Incident" resulted in my expiration. > I will not reply to any "Flames!" > Respectfully > D. Wayne Woollard CPBE > o--iii--( >
