SAIB CE-04-11 —

1 SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. CE-04-11 October 28, 2003 www.faa.gov - Search "SAIBs" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB advises you, owners and operators of Cessna 182 series airplanes listed below, of the availability of an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) for Airworthiness Directive (AD) 83-13-01. This AD concerns the fuel tank venting system.

Cessna Models 182 182A 182B 182C 182D 182E 182F 182G 182H 182J 182K 182L 182M 182N 182P 182Q R182

Background The FAA issued AD 83-13-01 based on reports of leaking fuel caps causing loss of fuel in flight and erroneous fuel quantity gauge indications. This fuel loss was due to the limitations of the primary fuel vent system during cruise flight with a leaking fuel cap (s) installation. Cessna has redesigned the fuel cap installation to reduce the potential of fuel cap leakage. In addition, several aftermarket manufacturers have provided fuel cap designs that are considered to be equivalent to the improved designs identified in Cessna Service Kit SK 182-85.

The FAA has issued AMOC approval letters to Cessna and certain aftermarket manufacturers of improved fuel cap designs eligible for installation on the Cessna 182 series airplanes that relieve owners and operators of the repetitive inspection requirements of AD 83-13-01. However, the instrument panel mounted placard that alerts the pilot to the potential of erroneous fuel quantity indications is still required in order to be in compliance with AD 83-13-01.

Recommendation The FAA has approved the fuel cap design provided by Cessna Service Kit SK 182-85 as an AMOC to the repetitive inspection requirements of AD 83-13-01 and encourages owners and operators to install these provisions. As previously stated, the pilot warning placard is still required to be in compliance with AD 83-13-01.

The FAA also recommends that owners and operators of Cessna 182 Series airplanes affected by AD 83-13-01 that are equipped with fuel caps other than those provided by Cessna to contact the organizations that have provided the replacement fuel caps. You should determine if these fuel cap installations have been granted AMOC approval letters from the FAA that also will enable the elimination of the repetitive inspection requirements of AD 83-13-01.

2 The approved AMOC’s do not remove required routine inspection requirements of fuel tank components at each 100-hour and annual inspection per CFR 43, Appendix D. Routine inspection would include checking for fuel stains indicating leakage, visual check of the fuel caps and adapter plates for condition and security of the sealing and locking mechanisms.

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]