MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN
Document No: 3286SB Date: September 11, 2006
Subject: Mandatory visual inspection of F. Atlee Dodge Wing Tank Fuel Sight Gauges. Part No. 3286 installed I.A.W. STC SA02115AK. (ref.dwg.no.3286)
Models Affected: Piper Models PA-12, PA-12S, PA-14, PA-18, “150”, PA-18S “150”, PA-18AS “150”, PA-22-160 with F. Atlee Dodge 30.5 Gallon Wing Fuel Tanks Installed. Or any other aircraft using F. Atlee Dodge Sight Gauges.
Statement of Difficulty: Reports have been received that the plastic tube sight gauges have been discoloring and or cracking. The discoloring and or cracking appear to be the result of using automotive fuel or auto fuel / AVGAS mixture. The original gauge plastic tubing is not compatible with Automotive Fuel. Continued use of discolored or cracked sight gauge creates an unsafe condition that could result in the inability to determine fuel quantity in the tank or possible fuel leakage and fires inside the cockpit.
Compliance: Within the next 10 flight hours after receipt of this Bulletin visually inspect the entire Sight Gauge including the connection area behind the cockpit trim panels. Any indication of discoloration or cracking constitutes an un-airworthy Sight Gauge. Replace any un-airworthy Sight Gauge with an improved Sight Gauge compatible with Automotive Fuel prior to further flight. Original Sight Gauges found to be airworthy at the initial inspection shall be inspected every 100 hours or annually, which ever comes first, until replacement with an improved Sight Gage.
Information and Parts Availability: Copies of Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 3268SB are available from F. Atlee Dodge Aircraft Services, LLC. Or electronically at
www.fadodge.com. Contact F. Atlee Dodge Aircraft Services, LLC. for availability and pricing of improved Sight Gages.