Flying with fuel leak?

I was looking over the web site of a flying club that posts the minutes of
their meetings. One item said that fuel was running out of the wing of
their 172 when the flaps were fully extended because the overflow drain was
broken. They asked that the tanks not be completely filled until this could
be fixed.

Am I just overly compulsive about maintenance or are these people nuts?

--
Roger Long

In article , "Roger Long"
om wrote:

I was looking over the web site of a flying club that posts the minutes
of
their meetings. One item said that fuel was running out of the wing of
their 172 when the flaps were fully extended because the overflow drain
was
broken. They asked that the tanks not be completely filled until this
could
be fixed.

Am I just overly compulsive about maintenance or are these people nuts?

ouch, those people are nuts.

--
Bob Noel

Roger Long wrote:

I was looking over the web site of a flying club that posts the minutes of
their meetings. One item said that fuel was running out of the wing of
their 172 when the flaps were fully extended because the overflow drain was
broken. They asked that the tanks not be completely filled until this could
be fixed.

Am I just overly compulsive about maintenance or are these people nuts?

As delivered from the factory, Maules spill fuel when completely filled. Owners
learn not to completely fill the tanks. If the flying club people are nuts,
then Maule owners ...... Never mind.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas refrigerators.

Skyhawks overflow as well but through the vent. It's the part about being
related to flap position that gives me the willies. That tells me fuel is
in the wing someplace other than the tanks.

--
Roger Long
G.R. Patterson III wrote in message
...


Roger Long wrote:

I was looking over the web site of a flying club that posts the minutes
of
their meetings. One item said that fuel was running out of the wing of
their 172 when the flaps were fully extended because the overflow drain
was
broken. They asked that the tanks not be completely filled until this
could
be fixed.

Am I just overly compulsive about maintenance or are these people nuts?

As delivered from the factory, Maules spill fuel when completely filled.
Owners
learn not to completely fill the tanks. If the flying club people are
nuts,
then Maule owners ...... Never mind.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas
refrigerators.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...
As delivered from the factory, Maules spill fuel when completely filled.
Owners
learn not to completely fill the tanks. If the flying club people are
nuts,
then Maule owners ...... Never mind.

Please George.... never mind.... but now that you brought it up (again), are
you aware of a fix? Or is it "As delivered from the factory" and for
evermore?

I've come to believe that keeping the tank switched to L or R while filled
helps but not really sure. Perhaps just the power of suggestion.

The "as delivered from factory" isn't the issue. If you could establish
that the tanks leaked like this due to the design, and when the plane was
certified, the leaks would then be OK. Not only would the be OK, it would
make the aircraft unairworthy to fix them. Flying the aircraft with tanks
that didn't leak would invalidate your insurance, expose you to license
suspension, cause your hair to fall out, your pecker to shrivel, hair to
grow on the palms of your hands, and your descendents cursed unto the
seventh generation.

--
Roger Long

"Roger Long" om wrote in
message ...
The "as delivered from factory" isn't the issue. If you could establish
that the tanks leaked like this due to the design, and when the plane was
certified, the leaks would then be OK. Not only would the be OK, it would
make the aircraft unairworthy to fix them. Flying the aircraft with tanks
that didn't leak would invalidate your insurance, expose you to license
suspension, cause your hair to fall out, your pecker to shrivel, hair to
grow on the palms of your hands, and your descendents cursed unto the
seventh generation.


I'll tell you, my tanks leak like a sieve, just like everyone else's. And
I'm proud of it!

I leak and I'm proud!

In fact, I'm going out right now, fill 'em up, taxi around, kill some grass
and then burn some off. Nothing is going to fall out or shrivel here.

seventh generation.


I'll tell you, my tanks leak like a sieve, just like everyone else's.
And
I'm proud of it!

I leak and I'm proud!

In fact, I'm going out right now, fill 'em up, taxi around, kill some
grass
and then burn some off. Nothing is going to fall out or shrivel here.

Reminds me of the Comp Air turbines. A couple of years ago at OSH, we had
to put fuel soak-up bags under two of them.
--
Jim in NC

Maule Driver wrote:

I've come to believe that keeping the tank switched to L or R while filled
helps but not really sure. Perhaps just the power of suggestion.

I have proven empirically that keeping the tank switched to L or R helps. Both
the local ramp by the fuel pumps and my tiedown are on slopes. If I fill the
tanks to 1.5" below the filler tube (which is normally safe), park on my
tiedown, and leave the selector in the "off" position, the right tank (the
uphill one) will be down about 1/4 tank a week later. Leave the selector on R,
and I'll still have full tanks. Similarly, if I leave the selector "off" while
I'm fueling, frequently the downhill tank will overflow before I finish paying
for the gas. I have developed the habit of leaving the selector on the uphill
tank, but I cannot give you a good reason for doing that instead of the downhill
one.

And no, I'm not aware of a fix. Seems to me that Maule would offer that as an
option if there were one.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas refrigerators.

I never turn my fuel off in my 812, there's no reason for it. When on a
hill or refueling and I'm trying to get as much gas in as possible I
will turn it to R or L. It does not matter which one.

G.R. Patterson III wrote:

Maule Driver wrote:

I've come to believe that keeping the tank switched to L or R while filled
helps but not really sure. Perhaps just the power of suggestion.


I have proven empirically that keeping the tank switched to L or R helps. Both
the local ramp by the fuel pumps and my tiedown are on slopes. If I fill the
tanks to 1.5" below the filler tube (which is normally safe), park on my
tiedown, and leave the selector in the "off" position, the right tank (the
uphill one) will be down about 1/4 tank a week later. Leave the selector on R,
and I'll still have full tanks. Similarly, if I leave the selector "off" while
I'm fueling, frequently the downhill tank will overflow before I finish paying
for the gas. I have developed the habit of leaving the selector on the uphill
tank, but I cannot give you a good reason for doing that instead of the downhill
one.

And no, I'm not aware of a fix. Seems to me that Maule would offer that as an
option if there were one.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas refrigerators.