Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy. Plane Repair

Bryan, this could be episode one of your new video series..."This Old Plane".
 
I wish I had a leaky fuel tank instead of...eh, never mind...
 
Bryan....sounds like you found the ....."Extend-O-Range" feature of the Grumman.;)
 
I hear flex tape can be purchased in white, too, so it will match Bryan's wing!
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Me: Leaky Fuel tank.

Every pilot: "Take it to fletchair, they are the only people that can fix a leaky fuel tank in the history of airplanes ever. Them and nobody else. If you pursue any other course of action you are the least smart pilot ever."

Me Knowing full well Every pilot also says "cant slip with flaps", "Can slip with flaps", "You're doing it wrong", "My way is the only way", "LOP", "ROP" and the list goes on.

Combine that with 90% of things in my life have been somewhat flexible.
The pool breaks, I sure as hell don't pay Leslie's 1000% markup. My car breaks, No chance I am taking it to the dealership.

Add to the equation the local MX says "I'll take a look. There's not a wet wing out there I can't fix" and "I own a Tiger. Its not that big a deal."

So I think "This sounds like most things. Lots of people have advice but likely there are other less complicated routes."

Round 1:
MX: Its fixed. all buttoned up and I put her back in your hangar.
2 days later MX calls: "I took a look just to check and it is leaking again"

Round 2:
MX: Its fixed.
I go to the hangar and there is this strange blue liquid dripping from the wing.
I text Eman because he bought a plane and I want a new owner to share my misery with. Ht makes me laugh and We're all good.

Round 3:
MX: Its fixed. This time I got in there and got it good.
Me: Fly to get cheap fuel. Fill it up. "Why does my gauge show empty"

Round 4:
MX: Seems we accidentally glued the fuel float to the floor of the tank. Also Its fixed.
Me: Fly to get cheap fuel. Fill it up. "Why does my gauge show empty"
Me Also: Why is there fuel all along the wing root

Round 5:
MX: Seems we broke a terminal off the fuel sending unit. You do notice it is leaking in a different place now right? That means we fixed the first one but you probably had a couple leaks.
MX Also: I am not going to let Dan work on it, This time, I am going to do it so it gets done right and for good.
Me: If it isn't fixed, can you at least give Fletchair a call and see what their process is? Maybe get some tips?
MX: Nope. I told you I am doing the work this time not Dan.
ME: I read the maintenance manual it says to pressure test it for 24 hours. Are you doing that?"
MX: Nah, sounds like something Dan would do and look where he has gotten us.

Current Situation:
MX: Its fixed. Verified fuel sending unit is good.
Me: Ok, I have a flight I want to make Saturday morning.
MX: I think you might wait until Sunday so we can make sure its not leaking. Let's let is sit another day and watch for leaks.

Me: Thinking its probably not really fixed and he is buying another day to see if he can fix something.

I am supposed to get it back tomorrow morning and I think I just have to fly the damned thing to Austin if it is still an issue. It is so easy to keep giving it back to this guy because the work is warrantied so it is not costing me anything but as a smarter pilot texted me this morning "From an outsiders perspective, I am reminded what the definition of insanity is"
Click to expand...
EDIT: See @Dan Thomas 's post #74 below
FWIW, I had a wet wing plane, C177 Cardinal. One wing leaked, but only when I topped it off. Putting no more than about 26 gallons, 30 gal tank, into that one stopped the leaking. Maybe you might be lucky enough to solve it that easy. But you gotta figure it's a matter of time before things start getting leaky elsewhere. I did a lot of shopping around and research on AA5's. What I found is it is not authorized to go into those wings. Not that it hasn't been done illegally. Fletchair however has a DER I think it's called that allows them to do it and they are the only ones who do. Sorry to hear about your 'surprise.' I feel your pain.
 
Last edited:
Hank S said:
Mine were done in Florida, whuch was approximately the same distance as Longview, TX and upper MN, but much, much closer than Troutdale, OR. Oh, wait, that's four . . . . And we haven't mentioned the nice folks in N. Calif.

And nine of thus has any bearing on the comedian's Grumman. Makes me wonder if there are any similarities in sealant and processes? May be worth checking into, Bryan-with-a-Y
Click to expand...

The one in N California hasn’t the cred in the Mooney community that the others seem to enjoy, at least from what I’ve seen. Me, I like the bladders quite a bit. They truly are a permanent fix. All I can say is in a Mooney if your tanks leak now they will again, unless you spend the big bucks. Most of the Mooneys I saw when I was looking to purchase smelled strongly of fuel.
 
If u always fly in a zero gravity configuration the fuel will never leak.
 
steingar said:
...Me, I like the bladders quite a bit. They truly are a permanent fix...
Click to expand...

Plenty of airplanes with bladders that have leaked. Ask most any experienced Comanche owner.
 
luvflyin said:
That implies you are always going to trust them and let them make decisions for you. I'd think a little more about that.
Click to expand...

Seriously? How did you come to that absurd conclusion?
 
Do I have to solve everything? Just flip ‘er inverted at 100 AGL, fly to your destination, then roll upright on short final! The leaky tank bottom is now the top-problem solved!
 
At least you're finding the same problem over and over again. I keep finding new problems and getting them fixed is new $$$.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
At least you're finding the same problem over and over again. I keep finding new problems and getting them fixed is new $$$.
Click to expand...

Yeah but his life expectancy of that wing is gonna shrink if that dude doesn't find a fix soon! ;):D
 
Hey Bryan, have you considered taking that Traveler to Fletch Air? They are the Grumman gurus. If you know about them and don't take a Grumman there well then you might have to question your intelligence :)
 
Texted him last night "I'm flying at 8 AM tomorrow. Any concerns?"
MX: Nope, I will have it in your hangar for you at 8 AM
Me: Goes to the hangar this morning. No plane. Go to MX
MX: The leak is fixed but now it is leaking badly out of the inspection panel
Me: $#@!! %$$$#& #$#$$!!! #*#&#!! You don't know what you are doing and you are incapable of fixing this #$@*@#$%## We're done!
 
GRG55 said:
Plenty of airplanes with bladders that have leaked. Ask most any experienced Comanche owner.
Click to expand...
On Mooney’s, if the bladders leak or have any other trouble they can be refurbished in situ for about 1 AMU.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Texted him last night "I'm flying at 8 AM tomorrow. Any concerns?"
MX: Nope, I will have it in your hangar for you at 8 AM
Me: Goes to the hangar this morning. No plane. Go to MX
MX: The leak is fixed but now it is leaking badly out of the inspection panel
Me: $#@!! %$$$#& #$#$$!!! #*#&#!! You don't know what you are doing and you are incapable of fixing this #$@*@#$%## We're done!
Click to expand...

You didn't! If ya did good on ya!
 
Geez dude... just paint your plane SR-71 black and tell everybody on the ramp it's a baby Blackbird, and will seal up once you're at Mach 3 and 70K elevation. :D
 
azblackbird said:
Geez dude... just paint your plane SR-71 black and tell everybody on the ramp it's a baby Blackbird, and will seal up once you're at Mach 3 and 70K elevation. :D
Click to expand...

I have to go with this for the win.
 
Bryan, Bryan, Bryan...

Drain that tank. Take the plane to Fletchair. I'll give you a ride back. I'll even demonstrate slips with full flaps. They are a hoot. Your life will become much better.
 
luvflyin said:
FWIW, I had a wet wing plane, C177 Cardinal. One wing leaked, but only when I topped it off. Putting no more than about 26 gallons, 30 gal tank, into that one stopped the leaking.
Click to expand...

Leaking fuel cells tend to fill the wing with fuel vapors. This is what can happen:

image012.jpg


From http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?docId=JUN2005

Scroll down a few articles.
 
He's got a point.

Don't turn on the strobes.
 
Fill the tanks, take a cutting torch and cut inspection panels in the top of the wings. Fix it yourself. All your problems would have been solved by now..
 
Bryan, reminds me of an oil change (before I started doing my own) when the line guy hooks the tow bar up with one side in the axle tube and the other side on the nose gear valve stem. Only made it around once when all that expensive air fell out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top