Return-Path: <lancair.list-request@olsusa.com>
Received: from teapot27.domain5.bigpond.com ([139.134.5.174])
          by truman.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.1 release 219
          ID# 0-64832U3500L350S0V35) with SMTP id com
          for <lancair.list@olsusa.com>; Sun, 23 Jan 2000 05:12:39 -0500
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by teapot27.domain5.bigpond.com (NTMail 3.02.13) with ESMTP id da740535 for <lancair.list@olsusa.com>; Sun, 23 Jan 2000 20:17:52 +1000
Received: from BDIP-T-013-p-52-44.tmns.net.au ([139.134.52.44]) by mail5.bigpond.com (Claudes-Drunken-MailRouter V2.7 9/6250542); 23 Jan 2000 20:17:51
Message-ID: <000501bf658b$0a0ac240$2c34868b@tig.com.au>
Reply-To: "Kevin Haydon" <khaydon@bigpond.com>
From: "Kevin Haydon" <khaydon@bigpond.com>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: possible fuel starvation - LNC4
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 21:16:40 +1100
X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>
Sirs.

I fly regularly with a friend in his LNC4 - IO550G
Has anybody else experienced the following problem?

Background:
About 60 trouble free hours so far with never less than about 100 litres (25
gallons) of fuel on board.
Fuel tanks constructed as per manual.

Problem:
Flying above field conducting NDB instrument checks with fuel down to about
80 litres (20 gallons) total (approx. 40 litres (10 gallons) each side). NDB
checks concluded, reduce power and allow nose to drop for descent. Engine
stops shortly afterwards!
Change tanks, boost pump on, restart in approx eight seconds. Climb above
field and conduct various checks - all opps normal.
Reduce power and allow nose to drop again - engine stops again soon
afterwards!
Change tanks, boost pump on, engine restarts in approx. eight seconds again.
Feels like twenty seconds this time.
Power reduced to idle and conduct level glide approach and safe landing.

Put aircraft to bed and scratch head for a while over cup of tea. Eventually
conclude that fuel pick-ups in tanks were uncovered during both descents due
to minimum dihedral, long tanks and relatively aft location of fuel
pick-ups.

All fuel system components and all other systems check out OK.

Your comments gentlemen? Has anybody else experienced this? Do you agree
with my conclusion?

Responses to:          khaydon@bigpond.com


[...curious... 10gal requires a volume of 2310 cubic inches, equivalent to 
a structure 10" wide, 10" tall, and 23.1" long... seems to me the inboard
fuel bay is smaller than this and would suggest that unporting the 
pickups with that much fuel available is unlikely, given the slosh door
is functioning.  Makes me wonder if the problem might not be with the vent
system, as I heard that there was a discrepancy in the earlier manual
which could lead one to miss the vent to that bay.

Please cc: the LML when you respond to Kevin's private email, as he 
doesn't appear to be a subscriber, at least not with the email address
given above.  Thanks......     <Marv>                                 ]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>