My first airplane...

david0tey

david0tey

Line Up and Wait
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Fox-Three
I am now an airplane owner! My dad and I bought a 1972 Musketeer B19 and got our insurance-required checkouts today. The plane just came out of annual and I do have a couple questions/concerns.

1. When I opened the left fuel tank cap after the first flight, there was clearly a vaccum built up within the tank. Air rushed into the tank and I could even see the aircraft skin around the tank "inflate". Obviously, my first thought is a clogged fuel tank vent. We did remove a small piece of debris from the vent, but it didn't seem significant enough to cause such a noticeable problem. I plan on heading out to the field tomorrow or Tuesday to do some engine runups using that tank to see if the problem has been fixed. In meantime, has anybody ever had a similar problem? If so, could there be any other explanations for this happening?

2. In flight, the plane has a seemingly significant left rolling tendency. The ailerons (which I believe are spring loaded?) always return to center after being turned in either direction. There is a bendable tab on the right aileron which seems to be designed to offset this tendency. Should it be bent up or down? If this does not solve the problem, is there anything else that can be done aside from spending $ on maintenance already!?

Other than that, I love the airplane and the way it flies. It ain't pretty, but it will get me the hours!
 
Congratulations on the new plane.

I am no expert on aircraft mechanics but it seems like a clogged vent is causing pressure to build up in the tank as fuel is consumed. I had the same issue in one of my corvettes.

If you have a left roll tendency, and your plane does have a "bendable" tab on the right aileron It should probably be adjusted upward forcing the right side down, counteracting the left wing drop during level flight.

I would consult your mechanic in both cases.

Have fun with the new acquisition. :thumbsup:
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the tab need to be bent downward in order to force the right aileron up?
 
Congrats!

Might see if you can find someone in your area that knows that airframe and can re-rig it..
 
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SoonerAviator said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the tab need to be bent downward in order to force the right aileron up?
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I would go with this. You might be surprised at how little bend is required to correct the left rolling tendency. Its pretty easy to over correct and find yourself with a right rolling tendency.
 
The right tab should be bent DOWN!!! to correct a left wing heavy tendency. Open the fuel cap and have someone blow into the vent. Can you blow into it freely, can you hear it as someone blows into it. A blocked vent is serious and you should figure this out before you fly again. This is the kind of stuff that should be checked during an annual inspection. One piece of advice on ownership is a cheap pencil whipped annual can end up to be very expensive and even cause death. Find a good mechanic. Also I assume you bought the airplane without flying it or you would have detected the left wing heaviness. Don
 
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Sounds like there is some disagreement about the tab. There's two ways to look at it. Either the air pressure hitting the 'bent up' tab pushes the whole wing down...Or the air pressure hitting the 'bent up' tab pushes only the aileron down, which would actually cause a further left turning tendency. I guess it all comes down to trial and error.
 
The tab only affects the aileron and then the aileron affect the wing. Tab up aileron down and vice-versa.

On your vents, I put a two inch clear tube on my vents. It seems that wasps crawl into the vents and build mud nests and block them. They don't go in that far so the tubes allow me to see if there is anything in there. Also the PO squeezed the vent tubes to prevent this from happening but I rounded them out again.

Blowing into them is a good suggestion, maybe get a piece of tube so you can reach it.
 
yakdriver said:
The right tab should be bent UP!!! to correct a left wing heavy tendency. Open the fuel cap and have someone blow into the vent. Can you blow into it freely, can you hear it as someone blows into it. A blocked vent is serious and you should figure this out before you fly again. This is the kind of stuff that should be checked during an annual inspection. One piece of advice on ownership is a cheap pencil whipped annual can end up to be very expensive and even cause death. Find a good mechanic. Also I assume you bought the airplane without flying it or you would have detected the left wing heaviness. Don
Click to expand...

I can't believe I said Up. DOWN,DOWN, DOWN. Bending the tab down will deflect the aileron up and rolling it to the right. I should have my coffee in the morning before I answer anything in the forum. Sorry Don
 
david0tey said:
Sounds like there is some disagreement about the tab. There's two ways to look at it. Either the air pressure hitting the 'bent up' tab pushes the whole wing down...Or the air pressure hitting the 'bent up' tab pushes only the aileron down, which would actually cause a further left turning tendency. I guess it all comes down to trial and error.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that the tab moves the control surface.

EDIT: Yup, YakDriver corrected his post. :)
 
Thanks everybody! Even you yakdriver; despite your best efforts to give me false information.;)
 
Congratulations on the new ride. Right hand turn Left aileron down Right aileron up. SO bend trim tab on Right wing DOWN.I use a pair of sheet metal pliers 6 inches wide, don't bend it to much. Fuel vent has got to have a blockage, clean out before next flight. I own a 74 Beech Sport 150 don't think there are a lot of us out there. Buy a parts manual (IPB ) and a Maintenance manual it worth the cash and helps on owner assisted annuals. Also think about a cabin cover, the door seals have a tendency to leak. You will love having 2 doors unlike Piper having to crawl over right hand seat. My wife calls out Sort the "little station wagon", lots of room but a little under powered. Have fun in your "Little Beech".
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yakdriver said:
[snip]Open the fuel cap and have someone blow into the vent. Can you blow into it freely, can you hear it as someone blows into it. A blocked vent is serious and you should figure this out before you fly again. [snip]
Click to expand...

OK. Mechanics chime in if I'm all wet.

Seem to me like I'd much rather use something to SUCK on the vent. If you blow in it don't you have the chance of blowing whatever the obstruction is into the fuel tank and now having debris loose in the tank? Maybe use a suction pump or a vacuum cleaner to (gently) suck on the vent with the tank open?

John
 
If temperature is below freezing may be ice blockage. A warm hanger would help. Suction is a good idea
 
There are hand pump vacuum pumps that would do the job no electricity needed
 
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