Post-Annual Flight

John Smith wrote:


The float detached from the sender in the right main tank on the
PA32-300 I flew to Florida a year ago. The gauge was therefore inop.
The aircraft is equipped with a FS-450 fuel flow monitor. I used this in
place of the specific fuel gauge. The FS-450 is accurately calibrated to
within 0.2 gallons, much better accurate than the manufacturer's fuel
gauge.
Was I legal?


No. The FS-450 installation instructions, which are a part of the STC,
specifically say "a placard stating 'Do Not Rely on Fuel Flow Instrument
to Determine Fuel Levels in Tanks' must be mounted on the aircraft
instrument panel near the FS-450."

Of course, the float didn't fall off until right before someone
important noticed it fell off, so until it fell off you were legal ;-).
Does a tree that falls in a forest make a sound?