REFLECTOR: Odd fuel stain?

[Scott Baker]

Maybe not the negative-G, but very likely the steep pitch up maneuver.  I 
have many times seen (from the ground) a vapor trail of fuel exiting the 
vent tube from Velocity aircraft doing high performance takeoffs at 
Sebastian.
Scott B.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 7:18 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Odd fuel stain?


> So after design/install of a new forward cabin heater system I took the 
> bird for a test flight.  I as also testing a new oil temperature sensor 
> which is working fabulously!
>
> Played around to the north of GNT getting the plane setup for LOP at 9500 
> and playing with different settings of the heater controls, there is a 
> separate control for pilot and co-pilot positions, plus the oil flap 
> provides full or reduced air flow.
>
> The problem occurred when I did a walk around in front of the hanger after 
> the flight and saw a bit of a fuel(blue) stain on the rear cowl! Thats 
> really odd I thought!  It started about a foot to the rear of the fuel 
> vent and was kinda wispy looking, about a foot+ long.
>
> I was pretty upset as I don't like fuel leaks, who does, and we are 
> planning on flying to Tahoe Tuesday morning. I was contemplating where it 
> could have come from, There is no way it cam from the engine compartment, 
> it would have pooled at the low point in the bottom cowl and come out the 
> drain holes, and this was nowhere near that. Plus the fact, is was 
> directly in line with the fuel vent, but why would it spit fuel in flight!
>
> Then I had an idea.
>
> When I came back to the pattern the airport crowd requested a low pass, 
> you know an altimeter/compass check, so I sucked the gear back up and did 
> a 185 knot 100 ft pass down the runway.  Turning about 2600 RPM, at mid 
> field I pulled up into a  steeper than usual climb, about 4,000+ ft per 
> minute, the speed rapidly unwinding, the altimeter doing the reverse. At 
> the top, about 1,000 agl and now at 120 knots I pushed over a little more 
> aggressive than I usually do, going just a bit negative G for 5 seconds or 
> so, leveled off and made a sedate pattern to landing.
>
> My fuel tanks are almost full, about 26 gallons in 30 gallons tanks.
>
> Now I wonder did the negative G maneuver cause the fuel to spit out the 
> vent?  Anybody else experience a similar thing?
>
> Scott
>
> -- 
> We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.
> Will Rogers
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