On 14-Jul-06, at 11:07 AM, Jim Patillo wrote: Add on to Group I have had one gradually block off in my DRAGONFLY I lost power and made Emergancy landing. When I looked at filter it looked like new from outside .it din't look blocked but it was.These are very dangerous filters Reg Clarke /Q2 N624JC
Group,
Anyone using those small see thru glass fuel filters should check them right away and do so on a regular basis. The filters are small and can plug rather easily. Last week I had to fly over and help a pilot that had an engine failure over central California and had to dead stick from the plane from 6,500' to a landing at Modesto, CA. No damage to either the pilot or plane.
The only reason I'm bringing this up now is because if I didn't say anything and it happened to someone else I would feel terrible. The engine started surging near the border in Norther California and finally quiting near Modesto, CA. He had looked at the filters within two hours before.
When I saw the lack of fuel flow at the carburator, my first suggestion was to pull the filters and verify. Sure enough the filters looked clean but you could barely blow through them. Once replaced the plane flew on to its destination.
Its these small things that can mess upo your day, HEADS UP!
