Hi John
I have the original glass filters and am very happy with them. In the first
few hours of a new Europa they do get blocked and mine needed cleaning every
5 hours or so for the first 25 hours and on one occasion at about 10 hours
caused fuel starvation on the climb out. Then less frequently cleaning
until the tank settled down at about 100 hours. At 550 hours the filter now
need a clean about every 50 hours.
My filters are installed under the seats protected by a Perspex cover, as
per the original Classic layout. I inspect them BEFORE EVERY FLIGHT. The
beauty of the glass container is that you can see what is going on, all that
is needed is to pull up the seat cushion and look. Cleaning is very easy
you just change the filter screen for a new one and wipe the inside of the
glass.
I would be very reluctant to install a filter unit I could not inspect
without taking it to bits.
Pete
Classic #109 Rotax 912UL
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of John Wighton
Sent: 01 September 2013 09:23
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Daily Mail report of father and daughter fatality
The photos taken in 2002 of the crashed aircraft are shocking and hopefully
not an indicator of the condition she was in at the time of the accident.
But l have to say that if the level of neglect extended to the systems,
especially the fuel system, the cause of the incident may easily have been a
blocked filter. According to a close friend of David, whom l spoke to
yesterday at the Rally, the accident occurred at full power in the climb
out after refuelling. If so the classic case of power starvation due to a
blocked filer is a possible cause. I note that the photos show the inline
filter used is the standard glass tube variety. Blockage of this type of
inline filter has caused many incidents and at least one written off Europa.
Analysing this filter shows it uses a 22 micron sized mesh. This is way
smaller than the 100 micron (largest) stipulated by Rotax. I had a stoppage
due to a blocked primary filter (same type) a few years ago, this led to a
hasty decent into Elstree using the reserve feed (thanks for the fire cover
guys). The filter was partially blocked with translucent material. It ran
on the ground but would not feed fuel to the goverened 5000 rpm of my AP332
controller.
Having thereafter spent a year in a constant state of fuel feed anxiety l
changed them for Andair filters which have a 60 micron filter size. To date
these have proven extremely reliable (100%).
In 2012 l contacted Andy at Andair to ask if a version for 1/4in bore fuel
lines could be made. He said it was quite easy, just a CNC program change,
the filters would then have a push-on nipple type end and not require screw
fit unions (as in my installation). Some discussion occurred with Andy
Draper about the mod.
Yesterday l checked with Andair, he had not got around to adapting the CNC
code and hence nothing had occurred at LAA Engineering.
If it turns out that the cause of the stoppage on GBXS was filter related
(this is speculative but informed on my part) we should support some action
which will lead to changes in the use of these standard glass tube filters.
A possibility for Europas could be a new filter, perhaps the Andair version.
I shall write to the LAA with my concerns over the continued use of the
glass tube, 22. Micron filters. If any Europa flyer, or other aircraft
operator with the same filter type, can supply information regarding the use
of these filters it may assist in deciding which way to go. Information
such as frequency of inspection, frequency of cleaning, stoppage or partial
blockage info, leaks, other issues will br gratefully received and treated
in confidence. Likewise any info showing satisfactory in service history is
also welcome. Please post info or email direct to me.
John(dot)wighton@ultraflight.net
John Wighton
Chief of Stress
Pilatus Aircraft
--------
John Wighton
Europa XS trigear G-IPOD
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