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Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:11:13 -0400
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From: "Steve Colwell" <mcmess1919@yahoo.com>
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Subject:  Andair's explanation
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Paul,

If the little screws that retain the fuel connectors on your Gascolator are
unacceptable, you will need to replace your Andair Fuel Selector Valve too.
Exploded (poor choice of terms) view http://www.andair.co.uk/pix/2520-3.jpg


With all the Lancairs flying (and thousands of RV's), most with Andair
Gascolators and Fuel Valves, yours is the first one I have heard of with
this problem.  Since these fittings are not normally removed for
maintenance, you may want to consider repairing your Gascolator as Andy
suggests.  I think they make a high quality, low maintenance, well designed
Gascolator.  But like all aircraft components, they should be carefully
inspected at Annual. 

Steve Colwell   Legacy
   

-----Original Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Paul
Miller
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 1:44 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Andair's explanation

LML: Here is the latest explanation of how Andair deals with the locking
screws on the gascolator connections. I'd like to toss a challenge to the
group to find a simple solution to this weak link.  I would be happy to
replace the Andair unit with a metal body, cartridge style, fuel filter with
standard fittings similar in strength to the fuel lines.  none of the high
performance vehicles seem to use the Andair style, they use robust, solid,
mountable, aluminum bodies with standard fittings.  However, I'm certain
there are issues for bypass, flow, pressure drop and so forth.  If someone
has an alternative that has been reviewed that's the simplest answer.  The
integrity of our fuel lines and fittings disappears once we insert this
Andair device which is protected only by 2 o-rings and 8 small, non-locking
screws.

Paul
Legacy

On 2013-06-05, at 10:51 AM, Andair <andair@andair.co.uk> wrote:

> Dear Paul,
>            When we offered the feature of being able to move the primary
fitting almost 20 years ago now,( remember this only applies to
EF20,FF20,FF20-A, FF25and EF25 all other fittings are stagged here in the
factory) it was considered to be very useful for the builder.It was then up
to the builder or inspector that was signing off that part of the build to
establish as to whether the screws had been securly fixed either loctite or
damaged into the vacant half hole.
>         To "stag" the countersunk screw is a recognised proceedure. We, at
Andair, cannot loctite the screws in as there is no visual evidence that the
screw is locked in a position  therefore it is damaged to show.
>        The problem comes as I see it when no third person carries out an
inspection and writes it in the log book that it has been checked. On the
aircraft I have built where it is considered to be a critical fuction or
area e.g. engine controls, fuel systems, flight controls etc there is a
section in the log book that is required to be signed. This may not be
foolproof but it goes some way to offset these types of problems.
>              Lastly when the aeroplane has been built flown a while and
then sold on, inspecting everything can be very teadious.
>            I hope you manage to read this and it be of some help.
> 
> Kind Regards
>       Andy Phillips
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Miller" <pjdm@slx.ca>
> To: "Andair" <andair@andair.co.uk>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 10:25 AM
> Subject: Re: gascolator failure
> 
> 
> I'm looking at a couple of installations here and I can't see any that
have incorporated the "stagging".   I'll ask the other Legacy owner here to
check his screws and see if they have backed off at all.   Thanks for that
update. It would seem a more certain style of lock is preferable.  Your
banjo fittings on the fuel selector are safety wired.  If the countersunk
screws had cap screws with drilled heads, they could be safety wired in
place and would never cause this problem.  Dumping fuel into the engine area
must not have a risk.   "stagging" does not appear to be a common practice
or one that works particularly well in this case.  Andair might want to
consider a safety upgrade on the design.
> 
> Paul Miller
> On 2013-06-05, at 4:38 AM, "Andair" <andair@andair.co.uk> wrote:
> 
>> Dear Paul,
>>           When a Gascolator or Fuel Selector is dispatched from the
factory with female fittings, the fittings are just pushed on the body and a
screw pack complete with Allen key is supplied in the box.
>> The reason for this is when the builder wants to position say a 90deg or
45 deg fitting it never tightens at the correct angle, so in all other cases
it is overtightened or is too slack. So, in our case the fitting can be
taken off and arranged at 90deg increments, thereby establishing the correct
torque on the fitting. Andair suggest that the fitting then be "stagged"
(the countersunk screw holding the fitting to the body be damaged to prevent
the screw "backing out" there is a small half hole in the fitting for that
purpose) If this function cannot be carried out then Loctite should be used.
>>        Regards
>>                  Andy Phillips
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Miller" <pjdm@slx.ca>
>> To: <andair@andair.co.uk>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 6:03 PM
>> Subject: gascolator failure
>> 
>> 
>> we have a failure on this gascolator.  removed for a stuck cup, the
firewall side was missing three screws and about to fail catastrophically.
Staining evident under the shroud.   Missing screws do not appear to be
locked and remaining screws are loose and not locked either.  Photos are at
:
>> 
>>
http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/pjdmiller/library/andair%20gascolator%20fa
ilure%20Lancair%20Legacy
>> 
>> Suggest this is a major issue for other aircraft, looking for some
guidance, probably SDR submission or more.  This is an engine fire waiting
to happen if other units are in the same condition.
>> 
>> Paul Miller
>> Florida
>> N357V=
> 


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