Fuel Tank Frustrations

Right fuel tank cracked at top seam. Tank was replaced. Operator noticed a very loud oil canning sound from right wing after shutdown following a one-hour flight. Investigation revealed a partial blockage of the fuel tank vent, causing oil canning of fuel tank due to vacuum in fuel tank. Vent line was cleared and vented cap was replaced with new.

Key Takeaways:

• Aircraft fuel tanks are susceptible to various structural integrity issues, including cracks from age, material degradation (fiberglass porosity), and corrosion often exacerbated by retained moisture.
• Blocked fuel tank vents can create negative pressure, leading to tank deformation (oil canning) and potential operational problems.
• Internal fuel system component failures, such as disintegrating fuel sender floats, can contaminate fuel and lead to critical in-flight events like engine power loss due to fuel starvation or blockages.

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