BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

[louiswp]

I need help on the fuel system for the BL-65, please describe it in detail the best you can. every manual I see the pictures and layout is pathetic. here is my assumption. one wing tank which side? tube runs down to a shut off valve? then to the header tank? header tank has a valve also with a push pull rod to shut off the fuel? then to the gascolator? then to carb.
please go in to more detail as far as tanks and routing and valves in the system. pictures or diagrams would be great. I will explain my reasoning after I get some replies. again thanks and I need help on this fast. has to do with the FAA. I will give that story later

Also is the BL-65 approved for auto fuel or does it need the stc.

[astjp2]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

The wing tank side is listed in the type certificate data sheet for your model, with that said, here is the path. Wing tank through finger screen, in the tank. It feeds a line that follows the wing root to under the dash. Under the dash there is an on/off valve which then feeds the main fuel tank. In the bottom of main tank is an elbow with a finger screen. The fuel passes through the elbow into a valve. The valve is actuated by a push pull rod. Once it passes through the valve, then it passes through the firewall, makes a turn to the pilots side and into the gascolator. Once it leaves the gascolator, it passes through a hose to the carburetor.

It is not real complicated, and your tube/hose routing must not have a low spot to trap water or contaminants and the gascolator has a screen to stop debris and a drain plus a drain is in each wing tank.

Hope this helps. Tim

[3Dreaming]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

BL-65 does not have a wing tank option on the type certificate. The only aux tank listed is the 6 gallon tank that goes under the baggage. If you have a wing tank it needs some kind of approval to be legal.

[louiswp]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

are you aware if theirs an STC for a wing tank at all?

[3Dreaming]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

are you aware if theirs an STC for a wing tank at all?

Not that I am aware of. Yours could have been done under a field approval. If it is non approved you can get with Barnstomer on the forum here to get a DER approval, or your IA might be able to get a field approval based on the type certificate A696 and letter filed with the ACO in New York saying firewall aft they are the same airplane.

[louiswp]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Not that I am aware of. Yours could have been done under a field approval. If it is non approved you can get with Barnstomer on the forum here to get a DER approval, or your IA might be able to get a field approval based on the type certificate A696 and letter filed with the ACO in New York saying firewall aft they are the same airplane.

unfortunately I am the IA, not familiar with this model. the owner has put so many illegal things on his aircraft that he ran off the runway and the FAA seen all the crap the owner put on after the annual. so basically the fed is doing an annual again checking out everything. he noticed the fuel system. every taylorcraft I have annualed or seen had this same set up. So I didn't think anything of it. what caught his attention was the owner put a handheld GPS and antenna on the panel, home made baggage protector and several other things done by the owner.
I can't control what the owners do after I annual the aircraft but am finding out maintenance on the engine was also done by the owner putting me in quite a predicament. now this fuel system is a hornets nest that has been in there for years. he has had the plane for 2 years

[3Dreaming]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Do you have the FAA records on the airplane? If not I would order the set from the FAA. This might shed a little light on whether the tank is legal.

[louiswp]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Do you have the FAA records on the airplane? If not I would order the set from the FAA. This might shed a little light on whether the tank is legal.

looks like the owner gave the logs to the FAA already. I haven't seen a taylorcraft that didn't have the same system installed. It has a tank in each wing, tubing down to a shut off for each side under the panel then to the header tank and that has a shut off with a push pull rod. It has been in there for years. not sure who installed it just assumed taylorcrafts were like that. guess I have to make sure every item is factory for now on assuming I don't lose my IA over it first.

[astjp2]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

The average FAA inspector will have a hard time even understanding what the airplane is supposed to have. You cannot prevent owners from making mods after an annual. Just be honest and don't offer any information, only answer what is asked. TIm

[M Towsley]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Just curious Louis, is this the plane? Diesel fuel? You have to love the press. Link: http://chippewa.com/news/local/short...9bb2963f4.html

[louiswp]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Just curious Louis, is this the plane? Diesel fuel? You have to love the press. Link: http://chippewa.com/news/local/short...9bb2963f4.html

That is the one, Hadn't seen the press report. No diesel fuel but I am sure he used the other approved fuel. report has been that it was carb ice. I have started the plane and did checks all is good. He is a friend also. I found out this Fed was a local IA years ago and he has had his run ins also with the FAA. kind of ironic he is pushing his weight. not sure if you can see in the photo but he has 2 fuel tanks and the header tank. partly my fault for not knowing taylorcrafts inside and out. I never imagined someone would do all that work without having it approved and the many other IA's that never seen it either but I will take the fall for it. lack of entries in the log books make it hard to tell when it was done. I assume at the time fabric was replaced whenever that was. don't have the logs to double check.
thanks for the article

[cvavon]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Not sure if this will help but it does refer to wing tanks and is from the factory

[louiswp]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Not sure if this will help but it does refer to wing tanks and is from the factory

Thanks, I am adding it to my begging for forgiveness letter. that should help.
I am also finding that around 1947 the factory offered this option. at the time it sounded like as soon as the tanks were made people were adding them. however if its not in the logs or no paperwork I understand it doesn't exist. this mod could of been added since late 40's early 50's. The tanks are designed in a way that the wing supports go right through gussets (holes) in the tank. so its not like they just pop in. the wing had to of been cut open DUH! or has been in there since the wings were last recovered or even the last several recoverings. your talking 1950 until now possibly. well not now cause I didn't put them in. But that brings up a few more questions. in 1950 what type of paper trails were there on aircraft? was the FAA around or who was the governing body at the time? was there field approvals, 337's or just put the stuff in. I have more research to do. BUT at least I am finding that this isn't something homemade, it is in several aircraft even a newer plane had it approved several years back when it was put on floats. so the plane didn't crash because of the fuel system that is used. just have to find paperwork. any more help greatly needed and appreciated

[Guest]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Louis,

If you are aware of similar mods on other planes of the same model and TCDS and you can access their 337's you may find a 337 dated prior Oct. 1, 1955 and it can be used as approved data.

Dave

[NC22211]

Re: BL-65 fuel system HELP!!

Louis,

If you are aware of similar mods on other planes of the same model and TCDS and you can access their 337's you may find a 337 dated prior Oct. 1, 1955 and it can be used as approved data.

Dave

There are many BL's with wing tanks. Getting DER approval is not difficult. Your problem, as you know is not getting approval now. The local FSDO has instant computer access to the filed FAA records on this plane. They can show you if proper Form 337 or STC paperwork for the tanks was submitted. If so, you're on the road to innocence. If the Fed is a jerk, you can pay $10 and order a CD of the records and study it yourself. There is a possibility that both wings were replaced with the current ones at some time in the past, and the tanks were just plumbed in. Since all wings are interchangeable, the change may have been considered routine and not generated additional paperwork. Check past repairs to see. Terry Bowden can DER the addition of wing tanks as he's proven the change officially. He could be hired to assist your defense. Keep the Tribe posted on this please!