SERVICE BULLETIN  #48

DATE:                    May 1, 1997

SUBJECT:               Fuel Tank Drains

APPLICABILITY:      All Pulsar I Aircraft

COMPLIANCE:        Mandatory

FROM:                   SkyStar Aircraft Engineering

Water and debris accumulation in aircraft fuel tanks is inevitable. The Pulsar I fuel tanks had no provision for draining this contamination from the tanks, and we feel this is an important situation that must be addressed.

We have developed a Wing Tank Drain Kit P/N 69248.000 and a Header Tank Drain Kit P/N 69250.000 that can be ordered through our Customer Service department at 208-454-1443. We also have an aircraft quality drainable gascolator available. We urge all builders whose aircraft have no tank drains to install them at the soonest practical opportunity.  Once the drains are installed the tanks should be checked for contamination (and drained of any, if found) during each pre-flight inspection. For tail dragger aircraft the tail must be raised to a normal flight attitude while the tanks are being checked for contamination.

Simply checking the gascolator for contaminates will not accurately reflect moisture and contamination that may be in the tanks, as the engine and fuel pumps must be running to move material into the gascolator. Therefore, the water that got into the tanks from that last rain shower (or aircraft wash down) will not arrive in the gascolator until the engine is drawing fuel through the system, and would probably (according to Murphy's Law) reach the carb's about the time that the fence passes under your wheels on departure.