Can Bind During Tank Switch, Leading To Fuel Starvation

The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) related to an issue with the fuel selector valve installed on Piper Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28R-180, and PA-28R-200 airplanes.

According to the SAIB, the fuel selector valve can be inadvertently switched off and/or may bind when switching fuel tanks and can cause a loss of power in flight. This SAIB also recommends the installation of a fuel selector valve cover designed to prevent inadvertently selecting the off position and the maintenance of fuel selector valves to prevent their binding.

The FAA has received a report of a pilot inadvertently switching off a fuel selector valve while landing a Piper Model PA-28-180C airplane, in December 2011, resulting in a crash with one serious injury and substantial airplane damage. The incident was attributed to the pilot inadvertently selecting the off position of the fuel selector valve and a lack of fuel selector valve maintenance.

To reduce the possibility of inadvertent shutoff and/or binding of fuel selector valves in flight, we recommend that owners and operators of Piper. Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28R-180, and PA-28R-200 airplanes:

• Become fully familiar with the operation of their airplane’s fuel selector valve, including the clock locations of the left tank, right tank and off positions and the feel of a fuel selector valve, when the valve handle is rotated, free from the onset of binding and arresting only at the detent for each tank and off position.
• Replace fuel selector valve covers with a design that utilizes a lockout device for the selection of a valve’s off positions, as addressed by Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 840A, dated 7 November 2013
• Inspect and maintain fuel selector valves in accordance with Piper SB 355, dated 5 Jun 1972.

The FAA also recommends that pilots ensure a flat landing site is available whenever switching fuel tanks and check before landing to ensure that an airplane’s fuel selector valve is positioned on the fullest tank to reduce the possibility of a crash when switching a fuel selector valve.

(Image from file)

FMI: SAIB