AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- mfdutra
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:49 pm
- First Name: Marlon
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N272DD
- Airports: KHWD
- Has thanked: 210 times
- Been thanked: 168 times
AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Well, my brand new DA62 (62.C053) didn't take long to go AOG just a few weeks after delivery. That's quite disappointing.
At least I have the luxury of having a good service center in my home base. They found out the probe of the inner chamber in the RH main tank failed. Believe it or not, that requires the entire wing to be removed, so they can access the tanks and the faulty probe.
The KOEL says I need 2 fuel indicators working. In the picture, you can see I have 3 of them working. I also have the alternate means apparatus. I was debating with the service center yesterday if I'm indeed not airworthy until the replacement parts arrive. I think I am. Thoughts?
At least I have the luxury of having a good service center in my home base. They found out the probe of the inner chamber in the RH main tank failed. Believe it or not, that requires the entire wing to be removed, so they can access the tanks and the faulty probe.
The KOEL says I need 2 fuel indicators working. In the picture, you can see I have 3 of them working. I also have the alternate means apparatus. I was debating with the service center yesterday if I'm indeed not airworthy until the replacement parts arrive. I think I am. Thoughts?
- Pehu
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2016 7:47 pm
- First Name: Pekka
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: ESTWN
- Airports: LSZL
- Has thanked: 38 times
- Been thanked: 38 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Had a similar incident with mine. RH side stopped working (or worked now and then, mostly not, or showed bad readings). The culprint was some TKS or moisture in the probe's circuitboard. I heard the new version of the probe fixed this issue. Or you just have faulty probe to beging with. Did this start to happen when in moist weather or when using TKS?
And yes, changing this it requires removal of the wing
I was flying with mine even with RH probe was misbehaving. Since the consumption for both engines are pretty similar, I was ok when I just had LH reading available. I also kept AUX tanks full as much as possible, IF it would have happened there is a leak and I run out of fuel. I always checked leaks in preflight anyways.
And yes, changing this it requires removal of the wing
I was flying with mine even with RH probe was misbehaving. Since the consumption for both engines are pretty similar, I was ok when I just had LH reading available. I also kept AUX tanks full as much as possible, IF it would have happened there is a leak and I run out of fuel. I always checked leaks in preflight anyways.
ES-TWN / DA62 #62.155
OH-ASM / DA40NG #N_399 (sold)
OH-WOW / DA40NG #N_328 (co-ownership, sold)
Based in Locarno, Switzerland
OH-ASM / DA40NG #N_399 (sold)
OH-WOW / DA40NG #N_328 (co-ownership, sold)
Based in Locarno, Switzerland
- mfdutra
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:49 pm
- First Name: Marlon
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N272DD
- Airports: KHWD
- Has thanked: 210 times
- Been thanked: 168 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Mine is actually acting up. It works some times and when it does, the indication is correct.
The first time I noticed was indeed after an IMC flight with some icing. But I had done quite a bit of IMC/icing before as well with no issues.
The first time I noticed was indeed after an IMC flight with some icing. But I had done quite a bit of IMC/icing before as well with no issues.
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2006
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N972RD
- Airports: KFHR
- Has thanked: 319 times
- Been thanked: 527 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
I find regulations extremely opaque and difficult to understand. I admit that when my right fuel gauge was being erratic I flew back and forth to the shop a number of times. Always with more than half a tank of fuel in both sides, often with both tanks topped off. I figured that the chance of running dry was very, very, very small. If I did, that's why I had two engines. Also, I figured I would see some fuel pressure fluctuations first and I would flip on the cross feed.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- mfdutra
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:49 pm
- First Name: Marlon
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N272DD
- Airports: KHWD
- Has thanked: 210 times
- Been thanked: 168 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Indeed. Technically, I'm not afraid to fly at all. But I don't want to engage in willful violation either.
- Pehu
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2016 7:47 pm
- First Name: Pekka
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: ESTWN
- Airports: LSZL
- Has thanked: 38 times
- Been thanked: 38 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
So exactly what happened to me too. Was ok the first year, then quite heavy moisture over alps at FL180 and got the crosses on RH fuel quantity. Took me a while to figure what the heck at night in full IMC and bad weather around
Anyways my shop tried to fix this by putting some silicon to the circuit board, but that didn't work. The probe was changed to a new one as warranty job. I would say plane is flyable while you wait for the replacement part.
Actually, another DA62 in the same field suffered from the same issue, so this isn't one isolated thing. But the info I got, the new probe version is less prone to this behaviour. Anyways, whatever the reason for your faulty probe, get it fixed and no need for AOG in my opinion. FAA rules might be different than here in EASA land, but my camo didn't ground the plane.
ES-TWN / DA62 #62.155
OH-ASM / DA40NG #N_399 (sold)
OH-WOW / DA40NG #N_328 (co-ownership, sold)
Based in Locarno, Switzerland
OH-ASM / DA40NG #N_399 (sold)
OH-WOW / DA40NG #N_328 (co-ownership, sold)
Based in Locarno, Switzerland
- Boatguy
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
- First Name: Russ
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N962M
- Airports: KSTS
- Has thanked: 1366 times
- Been thanked: 1196 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
OSB 62-040 Rev. 0 Just issued to address this. I’ll post later today.
- mfdutra
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:49 pm
- First Name: Marlon
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N272DD
- Airports: KHWD
- Has thanked: 210 times
- Been thanked: 168 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
That's for serials C039 and prior. My airplane is supposed to have already the probe with sealed connectors. It still failed anyways.
- Boatguy
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
- First Name: Russ
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N962M
- Airports: KSTS
- Has thanked: 1366 times
- Been thanked: 1196 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Yes, though this may be useful to others. Sounds like they need a better seal, or it was improperly installed.
- Attachments
-
- SB62-040-O-0-fuel-probes-with-sealed-connectors.pdf
- (228.89 KiB) Downloaded 48 times
- mfdutra
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:49 pm
- First Name: Marlon
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N272DD
- Airports: KHWD
- Has thanked: 210 times
- Been thanked: 168 times
Re: AOG - RH fuel indicator acting up
Yeah. My SC checked for TKS leaks and it was all clean.
I talked to a friend at Embraer and they've seen some probe issues in the Phenoms as well. Really not common, but it happens.
I talked to a friend at Embraer and they've seen some probe issues in the Phenoms as well. Really not common, but it happens.