CARs 549 and the exemption

[kearney]

Randy

Yes they do as they are the lowest point in the -10 fuel system.

Based on the info from TC, for the need for a gascolator with or without the exemption is dead as long as you have a serviceable fuel filter and a drain at the low point of the fuel system. In the case of my -10 I will have filters in each wing root as well as one after the fuel pumps. All all easily serviceable.

My fuel tank drains are the low point in the fuel system.

Cheers

Les

RV10 C-GCWZ - Sold
RV10 C-GROK - Nearing completion

[RandyAB]

Thanks for doing all of the heavy lifting on this with TC Les. I know tha MDRA never asked me to specify which CAR was to apply. Hopefully it will be seamless by the time I’m ready for final sign off thanks to your agitation on the matter.

[Jetmart]

Just wondering if there is any additional information on this matter.

Any -10 or -14's approved without a gascolator?

[Ralph Inkster]

Best to inquire with MD-RA to see if they got an official ruling from TC, or are still handling it as an exception case by case. I don't think Les heard boo back from them after his approval.
The last SDS system I installed was an upgrade from mechanical FI & mags so I was dealing direct with TC. This plane was set up with a gascolator between the fuel selector and fuel pumps (awkward location but original for this F-1) so they (TC) had no issues in adding the new equipment to the CofA.

[TS Flightlines]

Steve and I along with a 14 builder in British Columbia have made some prototypes of Andair wing root gascolators with shutoff valves at the tanks. Valves in place to enable servicing the gascolators withour draining the tanks, and a potential fire/explosion hazzard. We also did a mock up of a Aerolabs gacolator in the 14 wing root. Pretty complicated, but will work.

On a side note---for all of you RV14 builders using either the SDS or EFii32 duplex systems, we did the same thing but mounted a Holley filter in each root. NOT accepted by rule anyway by the Canadian Transport Dept because of the no drain thing, but for the US clients, it will work. Some minor fine tuning once they are actually installed in the roots, but looks like it will be fine. WE plan on making our duplex kit compatible with these. Also will include the shutoff valves at the tanks.
Thanks to Kriegler LeRoux for making the root mockup for us!

Tom

[RandyAB]

Originally Posted by Jetmart

Just wondering if there is any additional information on this matter.

Any -10 or -14's approved without a gascolator?

Les does not have a gascolator in his.

[kearney]

Glenn

My -10 which was inspected by MD-RA in April 2019 does not have a gascolator. It was inspected under CAR 549 and not the exemption.

My -10 has Holley billet filters in the wing roots and another Holley filter on the firewall. My tank drains serve as sump drains. I went this route as my -10 has dual electric fuel pumps in the tunnel and no mechanical fuel pump. Therefore all fuel north of the firewall is pressurized. This makes, IMHO, a FWF gascolator unsafe as they are not designed to be pressurized. Also, they provide no value to a low wing a/c when mounted on the firewall.

I need this arrangement as I use the SDSEFI.COM electronic ignition (no mags) and electronic fuel injection.

MD-RA was quite intransigent when doing my inspection - it took an appeal to TC to get them to relent. I believe they are now applying the CARs as written and not based on how they want them to be.

FWIW, the MD-RA document C52E is riddled with errors and misquotes CAR 423 which does not apply to amateur built aircraft.

Cheers

Les

[kearney]

Tom

You mentioned that the "Canadian Transport Department" not accepting the wing root filters. For clarity was that Transport Canada or MD-RA? Also, when was this. If it was before April 2019, then it occurred before my in section where this issue was finally resolved.

[TS Flightlines]

Les---as I recall it was MD-RA, and prior to your dealing with them. WE were told that by a Canadian client that was dealing with a no gascolator applications. He was told no filters in the roots.
Since then, and I guess credit is due to you, seems they have relented and will accept tank drains as lowest point servicing, and root filters.
We are just going by what we are told, and asked by our Canadian clients.
Kriegler LeRoux deal with this for quite a while on his 14, then came back to us to plumb his Andair Gascolators in the roots.

Tom

[Jetmart]

Les & Tom,

If I understand what your saying correctly TC has backed off their position of the gascolator but only for CAR 549 and not the exemption. Is this correct? If so how does it make sense to be required for aircraft that chose to go with the exemption? It still should be just as unsafe or unnecessary.

Les by going with the CAR 549 did you have to go with the large letters on the side of the fuselage for the passenger warning?