Home Documents Images Message Board
(Use your browser's back button to return to the page that you were previously viewing.)

 

Dr. PAUL J. YOCOM
--Physician--
(Doctor of Chiropractic)

(305) 631-9536

-----1802 South Fiske Blvd., Suite #110; Rockledge, Florida; 32955----

 

2-17-88

 

Aviation Consumer
1111 East Putnam Ave.,
Riverdale, Conn. 06878

 

Gentlemen:

 

RE: Piper Apache Water Hazzard.

 

On Thursday, January 28th 1988, the F.A.A. in conjunction with Piper aircraft conducted an experiment regarding the water hazzard in the Piper Apache. The aircraft used was 1956 Piper Apache serial no 23-555, which is owned by the undersigned. The F.A.A./Piper team was very cooperative; interested; and thorough. The unofficial results of the experiment by my observation is that each fuel cell (main or aux) definately can hold water that is not able to be drained out. The amount of water remaining appears to be approximately 3 1/2 times the volume of the gascolator, which would guarantee an engine failure due to water contamination. I have had this problem with my aircraft, and frankly until I got the water all out, I became pretty handy at flying the Apache on one engine. I had 3 failures: one on level flight when I switched to aux fuel; one in I.F.R. conditions which included an instrument approach; and one on take off at about 400' A.G.L.. For Apache doubters -- it will fly with the right engine failed (feathered and gear up real quickly) on extended take off (400' AGL) at gross on a 70 degree morning at sea level. It just dosent do it very well, but it does do it. It climbs about 50-75'/min, and directional control is easy with trim, The problem was water. The engine right engine did quit very abruptly and ingested enough water that a restart on the aux tank was not possible when it was tried on the ground. When the gascolator was drained, the engine started and ran normally. The problem is serious, and it happens very abruptly, and unpredicatably. It is not correctable by adding alcohol to the gasoline. The tanks must be opened and the water physically removed. Some also collects in the crossfeed. The carburators and fuel lines must also be drained. Water must be prevented from getting into the tanks. The correction will likely be some method of better protecting the fuel from water (at the very least new fuel caps are a must), and drastically increasing the water separation capabilities of the fuel system. As always in a twin, one must keep current on emergency procedures, and use everything that you know and don't panic in the event of an emergency. The Apache is otherwise a very fine airplane, and it will do what it was designed to do using one's very best piloting skills. Frankly I am alive to tell about it, but I would have "enjoyed" an I.R.S. audit more!

Dr. Paul J. Yocom
Rockledge, FLA.

 

Home Documents Images Message Board
(Use your browser's back button to return to the page that you were previously viewing.)