REFLECTOR:Flying Level or not

John Dibble reflector@tvbf.org
Tue, 27 Apr 2004 22:26:53 -0500


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Is it the chicken or the egg?  Are uneven wings causing uneven fuel or
vise-versa?  I had similar symptoms last summer.  Cruising at 8500, the
tanks would empty unevenly by about 10 gal and the low fuel light would
be on most of the time, occasionally going off momentarily.  I could
level the fuel with rudder, but chose not to.  With less than 20 gal
left and descending for destination, the fuel leveled and the low fuel
light went out.  My caps seemed tight, but I cleaned and greased with
fuel resistant grease.  Since then my fuel stays level and only rarely
does the low fuel light momentarily come on.  My tanks are different
because I have over flow lines that point into the wind which feed air
to the tanks and I think this minimizes any effect of a leaking cap.

John

Rene Dugas wrote:

> Dear fellows,
>
> My plane has been flying for about 160 hrs without significant
> problems but my left wing is lower than the right in level straight
> flight with the ball centered.  This causes my right wing fuel to
> empty about twelve gallons first the fuel flow equalizes.  Fuel and
> vent lines are fine and flow well.  Fuel caps are tight and greased
> with metal and o-ring seals.
>
> If I use left rudder the sing will lift and the ball moves about 1/4th
> ball to the right and fuel flow will equalize.  This occurs with the
> front edge of the rudder about 1/8th inch back.  I placed a fragment
> of a tongue depressor in the groove and flew with the wings level and
> ball to the right 1/4th and lost about 3 to 4 knots in cruise.
>
> The unequal flow also causes my low fuel warning light to start
> flickering after the first 15 gallons have drained from the right
> tank.
>
> My goal is to get the plane to fly straight and wings level with equal
> feed from both tanks.  I used an electronic level in the plane and it
> flies about 1.5 degrees left wing low.
>
> I am curious is placing a shim to move the wing back inside the cowl
> would angle the winglet on the left wing forward enough to increase
> it’s inward lift and do the same thing than rudder does?  I can shim
> the rudder but then the rudder will never be in trail – looks bad and
> seems less aerodynamic.  Brendan is concerned about flutter but if the
> winglet is moved forward that should place more return pressure on the
> rudder not less.
>
> Ideas and choices and EXPERIENCE would be appreciated.
>
> Rene’ Dugas
>
> XL RG
>
> N129RD
>

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Is it the chicken or the egg?&nbsp; Are uneven wings causing uneven fuel
or vise-versa?&nbsp; I had similar symptoms last summer.&nbsp; Cruising
at 8500, the tanks would empty unevenly by about 10 gal and the low fuel
light would be on most of the time, occasionally going off momentarily.&nbsp;
I could level the fuel with rudder, but chose not to.&nbsp; With less than
20 gal left and descending for destination, the fuel leveled and the low
fuel light went out.&nbsp; My caps seemed tight, but I cleaned and greased
with fuel resistant grease.&nbsp; Since then my fuel stays level and only
rarely does the low fuel light momentarily come on.&nbsp; My tanks are
different because I have over flow lines that point into the wind which
feed air to the tanks and I think this minimizes any effect of a leaking
cap.
<p>John
<p>Rene Dugas wrote:
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<div class=Section1>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>Dear
fellows,</font></font></font></span></div>


<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>My
plane has been flying for about 160 hrs without significant problems but
my left wing is lower than the right in level straight flight with the
ball centered.&nbsp; This causes my right wing fuel to empty about twelve
gallons first the fuel flow equalizes.&nbsp; Fuel and vent lines are fine
and flow well.&nbsp; Fuel caps are tight and greased with metal and o-ring
seals.&nbsp;</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>If
I use left rudder the sing will lift and the ball moves about 1/4<sup>th</sup>
ball to the right and fuel flow will equalize.&nbsp; This occurs with the
front edge of the rudder about 1/8<sup>th</sup> inch back.&nbsp; I placed
a fragment of a tongue depressor in the groove and flew with the wings
level and ball to the right 1/4<sup>th</sup> and lost about 3 to 4 knots
in cruise.&nbsp;</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>The
unequal flow also causes my low fuel warning light to start flickering
after the first 15 gallons have drained from the right tank.</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>My
goal is to get the plane to fly straight and wings level with equal feed
from both tanks.&nbsp; I used an electronic level in the plane and it flies
about 1.5 degrees left wing low.</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>I
am curious is placing a shim to move the wing back inside the cowl would
angle the winglet on the left wing forward enough to increase it’s inward
lift and do the same thing than rudder does?&nbsp; I can shim the rudder
but then the rudder will never be in trail – looks bad and seems less aerodynamic.&nbsp;
Brendan is concerned about flutter but if the winglet is moved forward
that should place more return pressure on the rudder not less.</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>Ideas
and choices and EXPERIENCE would be appreciated.</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>Rene’
Dugas</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>XL
RG</font></font></font></span>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span 
style='font-size:12.0pt'><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font color="#663333"><font size=+0>N129RD</font></font></font></span></div>
</blockquote>

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