twoeightfive
Registered User
Eagle River, AK
Not sure if anyone has any experience with something like this happening in their plane. About a year ago I noticed occasionally after landing during the rollout I could hear a slight "popping" noise coming from either the wing or behind in the fuselage. It seemed hit or miss at first. I didn't really think much of it I thought maybe something was shifting around in the belly pod. Flash forward to now, it happens very frequently and I believe I have it pin pointed to the left fuel tank. It happens all the time in the landing rollout after the plane has slowed to maybe 20mph. It DOES NOT happen upon touchdown, it happens after. I hypothesized that the fuel tank has some kind of dent in it, and during flight the vented cap is allowing enough pressure to keep it from popping, and during the rollout as the plane slows the pressure reduces and whatever it is, a dent or flimsy part of the tank would pop due to decreased pressure. It happens when the tank has anything less than 1/2 to 3/4 fuel.
I have the standard piper fuel caps for my 160HP O-320-B2B. I tried using a single atlee pressure vent cap on that side and it seemed to help for a little while but then it would do it again at lower fuel amounts in that tank.
I have a CGR-30P engine monitor and fuel flow is always fine, plane runs great. At this point its more of annoyance that makes me cringe, but worried it could lead to bigger issues. The plane was never in any kind of accident or anything that would have dented the tank.
Yesterday I was taxiing on a little bit rougher of strip and it popped so loud I thought I had hit something at first. I think it may have been from fuel sloshing around aggravating it.
Mechanic is going to look at the tank but just curious if anyone has ever experienced this. They are stock 18 gallon tanks on a normal left, right off system.
Also if we do have to end up replacing the tank is there any difference between the Univair and Dakota cub 18 gallon tanks?
Thanks in advance.
I have the standard piper fuel caps for my 160HP O-320-B2B. I tried using a single atlee pressure vent cap on that side and it seemed to help for a little while but then it would do it again at lower fuel amounts in that tank.
I have a CGR-30P engine monitor and fuel flow is always fine, plane runs great. At this point its more of annoyance that makes me cringe, but worried it could lead to bigger issues. The plane was never in any kind of accident or anything that would have dented the tank.
Yesterday I was taxiing on a little bit rougher of strip and it popped so loud I thought I had hit something at first. I think it may have been from fuel sloshing around aggravating it.
Mechanic is going to look at the tank but just curious if anyone has ever experienced this. They are stock 18 gallon tanks on a normal left, right off system.
Also if we do have to end up replacing the tank is there any difference between the Univair and Dakota cub 18 gallon tanks?
Thanks in advance.