|
I have one of the older fuel selector valves (prior
to Andair). I have not had any problems with it but I have been told that
this valve could be a potential problem with sucking air from an empty tank when
the selector is on the other tank with fuel. Since I have been in the
Lancair community for only one year, I don't know the complete history.
On my last 3 flights of about 3 hours each, I have
had a strange occurrence. The following is not an exact account but it
will make the point. From take off to the following point, fuel
consumption from the tanks per the gauges was as expected. With 20 gallons
in the left tank and 30 gallons in the right (as read on the Chelton display), I
switched from the left tank to the right tank. The left tank
continued to go down and the right tank increased. At landing I am
down to 10 on the left and at 35 on the right! Can this happen? Upon
taxi to the hangar the gauges read as they should. (20 left and 25 right)
Upon adding fuel it is confirmed that there was 20 in the left and 25 in the
right.
In the past the fuel gauges have
been dead on. I can tell you within 1 gallon how much it will take to
top the tanks off.
It would seem that there is just a gauge problem
but it sure got my attention the first time it happened when Bitchin'
Betty was screaming LOW FUEL, and the gauge was blinking red and showing 6
gallons by the time I could get on the ground! All 3 times it
happened there was a total of 40 to 50 gallons left.
Any ideas?
Dan Reagan
Lancair IVP N10UU fantastically built by Jack
Hickham (and Nancy)
160 Hours
|