REFLECTOR: Fuel caps

Dave T Nelson via Reflector reflector at tvbf.org
Sat Jul 19 08:03:20 CDT 2014


Team, in memory of my friends Phil and Dottie Greer,  who died in their 
Varieze at KCGIG (a Kansas city fly in back in the 80's), I want to tell 
everyone - 

MAKE CERTAIN YOUR FUEL CAPS ARE SAFETIED, such that if they do come off 
they cannot, under any circumstances, depart the aircraft. 

Being outside the prop arc may or may not be enough.  Remember, the prop 
is sucking a tremendous amount of air through it... including the air 
around it, not just the air in front of it.  Beyond that, what about if 
you're in a turn, at low speeds, such as a turnout just after taking off?

Phil and Dottie... died when a fuel cap departed their Varieze and 
destroyed their prop just after takeoff.  Please... safety those caps! 
Independant of where you locate them... safety them!
 
Dave

Dave T. Nelson
T/L 553-4327, Voice 507-253-4327, Fax 507-253-3648
Program Director, ISC ECAT NPI & Test Engineering

---- Message from John Youngblood via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org> on 
Fri, 18 Jul 2014 11:18:18 -0700 -----
To:
Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>, 
reflector-request at tvbf.org
Subject:
Re: REFLECTOR: Reflector Digest, Vol 112, Issue 14
Phil,

Two good friends have damaged their props due to fuel cap ingestion.  I’ve 
located mine about a foot from the outboard edge of the strake, well out 
of the prop's destruction zone.  That’s probably a 1/4” lower that the 
inboard location on the plans.  However, my XLRG-5 still holds over 85 
gallons of fuel (more than seven hours!)  My badder won’t last that long? 
Why take the chance?

John Youngblood
aqcs at comcast.net
On Jul 17, 2014, at 10:00 AM, via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1.  Filler cap (Phil Hooper via Reflector)
>   2. Re:  Filler cap (Scott Baker via Reflector)
>   3. Re:  Filler cap (David Rene Dugas via Reflector)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:46:07 -0700
> From: Phil Hooper via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org>
> To: Velocity list <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Filler cap
> Message-ID: <5220267740154774070 at unknownmsgid>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> I am building an XL RG.  I would like to place the fuel filler caps
> more outboard inside the outer most fuel baffle, between the wheel
> well. This would make fueling a heck of a lot easier. Is there a
> structural issue why the caps need to go where the manual specifies?
> 
> Sent from my phone out of the office.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:53:53 -0400
> From: Scott Baker via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org>
> To: Phil Hooper <phil at hdmnet.com>, Velocity Aircraft Owners and
>                Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Filler cap
> Message-ID: <53C829D1.9010100 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
> 
> On 7/17/2014 3:46 PM, Phil Hooper via Reflector wrote:
>> I am building an XL RG.  I would like to place the fuel filler caps
>> more outboard inside the outer most fuel baffle, between the wheel
>> well. This would make fueling a heck of a lot easier. Is there a
>> structural issue why the caps need to go where the manual specifies?
>> 
>> Sent from my phone out of the office.
>> _______________________________________________
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> Hello Phil,
> Structurally, the fuel filler cap can be located anywhere.
> Two big factors to consider when locating the filler caps ...
> 1)    Max fuel - locate cap at highest elevation (along the curvature of 

> the strake), and
> 2)    Safety - consider the potential damage if the fuel cap were to 
> come off and enter the fan arc of the propeller
> Scott B
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:22:08 -0500
> From: David Rene Dugas via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org>
> To: Phil Hooper <phil at hdmnet.com>, Velocity Aircraft Owners and
>                Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Filler cap
> Message-ID: <01AF67EC-5601-428D-97B6-B17093FAAB23 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;              charset=utf-8
> 
> Mine are only about 6 inches from the outboard tank wall.  Also put 6 
layers of bid under the access and three along the wall incase the 
refueling nozzle ever gets away from me. I like the cap being well outside 
of the prop arc. 
> 
> René Dugas
> Apple the REALLY smart phone. 
> 
>> On Jul 17, 2014, at 2:46 PM, Phil Hooper via Reflector 
<reflector at tvbf.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I am building an XL RG.  I would like to place the fuel filler caps
>> more outboard inside the outer most fuel baffle, between the wheel
>> well. This would make fueling a heck of a lot easier. Is there a
>> structural issue why the caps need to go where the manual specifies?
>> 
>> Sent from my phone out of the office.
>> _______________________________________________
>> To change your email address, visit 
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>> 
>> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
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> ------------------------------
> 
> End of Reflector Digest, Vol 112, Issue 14
> ******************************************




----- Message from vance atkinson via Reflector <reflector at tvbf.org> on 
Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:26:59 -0500 -----
To:
Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Subject:
REFLECTOR: loose fuel caps

You guys are lucky you only damaged your prop when the fuel cap came 
off...

I replace my old fuel cap with newer designed ones and incorporated a 
tether to the cap so it cant come loose.

Vance Atkinson


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