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20 March 1996 |
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Mr. Mark M. Lacagnina |
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Reference: |
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Dear Mr. Lacagnina: |
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Thanks for your response to my "Reflections". And thanks too for your obvious interest in and concerns for better and safer general aviation. |
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What I did not send you, and I don't intend to, is the scathing response that I received from Ira Rimson, the editor at ISASI in Sterling, Virginia. I have known Ira for some 30 odd years, and odd they have been. However, I thought he would see that a "reflection" can only occur as a secondary result of light. He didn't get it. But, he is close to the beltway and one might just expect such an attitude. |
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Yes, the design defect I mentioned was the PA-23 water in the fuel problem. |
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Isn't it puzzling that the FAA doesn't see that to drain water out of a tank it might be reasonable to put the drain where the water collects. I have brought it to their attention several times, but they can't seem to implement a simple direct solution to any problem. Wedges inside the tanks wouldn't stay put since the glue wouldn't stick in gasoline…..or so the AOPA told me. Once the wedge got loose in the tank and the fuel was low the wedge would cover the fuel outlet. The "solution" became the problem. Ramps, even if properly installed (and that is going to be extremely difficult with old brittle tanks) are going to introduce wrinkles in the tank that will retain water much as the old bladder tanks in the 200 series Cessnas. |
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I talked to Sam Lovell, FAA, Kansas City, on this issue and he says that the tank manufacturers oppose putting drains in the after inboard corners of the tanks. They fear that old brittle tanks would not accept a drain without radiating cracks around the drain hole. If the tanks are that brittle, wait till some ham handed mechanic tries to lay the bottom of the tank smoothly over a ramp ! Tank sales will multiply faster than rabbits. Maybe the tank suppliers aren't so dumb after all. |
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Installation of a drain similar to the drains in the after inboard corner of many aircraft tanks is a breeze compared to the installation of "ramps". Any A & P who can't drill a hole in the right spot in a tank without radiating cracks certainly won't be working on my aircraft. And, if a tank is that brittle it is time for replacement in the first place. |
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Incidentally, after the sharp letter from ISASI about my "Reflections" I realized that it could be misunderstood. Sooooo, I wrote a Postscript…..enclosed. Explanation ??? Perhaps, or not. My sainted mother used to say that explanations were useless….your friends don't need them and your enemies wouldn't believe you anyway. |
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To answer your question about ramps and wedges directly:….Yes, ramps are better than wedges but neither is the proper answer to the problem. Water in gasoline is as old as reciprocating engines. You can't keep water out of a hygroscopic solution. So you plan for it and plan to get rid of it. That is where it must be eliminated, in the planning stage. The FARs make a pretty good stab at the problem in the design of fuel systems, but the FAA doesn't monitor the manufacturers in that and many other regards. Look at all the ADs issued on aircraft to correct design deficiences and to bring aircraft into compliance with the FARs. If the aircraft manufacturers were required to pay for all ADs which were design related there would be fewer of them. |
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Enough ! I'm too old to start any more fights with anyone. I have more than enough to last me until I run out of steam. The PA-23 is just one of them. |
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Respectfully, Norman L. Horton |
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