SAIB CE-03-43R1 —

1 REVISED SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. CE-03-43R1 September 23, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at www.airweb.faa.gov This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Revised Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) updates information we issued in SAIB CE-03-43, dated June 27, 2003. All other information remains the same.

This SAIB informs you, an owner or operator of Cessna model 100, 200, 300, and 400 series airplanes, that a safety concern exists regarding resistance and capacitance type fuel quantity gauging systems.

Background Cessna has expressed concern regarding airworthiness issues with resistance type fuel quantity systems on their general aviation single and multiple engine aircraft products. They recommend periodic calibration checks of both the empty and full positions of the gauging system.

Cessna released two Service Bulletins, SEB99-18, dated November 1, 1999, and revised April 2001, addressing single engine models and MEB99-21, rev 1, dated May 7, 2001, for multiple engine models, to address fuel quantity indicating concerns on the Stewart Warner resistance type system. A review of Service Difficulty Reports reveals that inaccurate fuel quantity indications may have contributed to some accidents and incidents.

Recommendation The FAA recommends that a FAA-certificated mechanic or repair station accomplish the following calibration procedure within the next 100 hours of operation or at the next annual inspection:

• Drain all of the fuel tanks • Level the aircraft • Add back the appropriate unusable fuel • Calibrate fuel quantity gauges for the “0” or “empty” indication

Refer to the appropriate Cessna maintenance/service manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for specific instructions on performing each of these procedures. Additional instructions can be found in Cessna Service Bulletins SEB99-18 and MEB99-21.

2 The calibration procedure should also be performed by a properly FAA certificated mechanic or repair station at 5-year intervals or anytime the fuel gauging system components are disturbed or any time accuracy is suspect.

For Further Information Contact Paul Pendleton, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4143; email: [email protected]

Barry Ballenger, Continued Operational Safety, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; phone: (816) 329-4152; email: [email protected]