GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude when pilot was distracted by ...

Attributes
ACN	119275
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : isw
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8600 msl bound upper : 9000
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zmp
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	119275
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approximately 45 NM south isw lost altitude (9000 to 8600). Cause was discovery of fuel leak and resultant rapid loss of fuel. Loss of altitude was caused by attention to alternate airports for precautionary landing and calculation of fuel loss and fuel remaining. Cancelled IFR immediately and made rapid VFR descent and landing at isw. Measured 9 gal fuel remaining. Fuel leak caused by completely cracked bracket that held fuel line and vibrated fittings loose. Aircraft had completed a 50 hour inspection prior to this trip. Prevention is a good a&P and FBO that will perform all adequate 50 and 100 hour inspections. The bracket had been cracked for some time so it was missed on both the 100 and 50 hour.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT WHEN PLT WAS DISTRACTED BY A FUEL LEAK.

Narrative: APPROX 45 NM S ISW LOST ALT (9000 TO 8600). CAUSE WAS DISCOVERY OF FUEL LEAK AND RESULTANT RAPID LOSS OF FUEL. LOSS OF ALT WAS CAUSED BY ATTN TO ALTERNATE ARPTS FOR PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AND CALCULATION OF FUEL LOSS AND FUEL REMAINING. CANCELLED IFR IMMEDIATELY AND MADE RAPID VFR DSCNT AND LNDG AT ISW. MEASURED 9 GAL FUEL REMAINING. FUEL LEAK CAUSED BY COMPLETELY CRACKED BRACKET THAT HELD FUEL LINE AND VIBRATED FITTINGS LOOSE. ACFT HAD COMPLETED A 50 HR INSPECTION PRIOR TO THIS TRIP. PREVENTION IS A GOOD A&P AND FBO THAT WILL PERFORM ALL ADEQUATE 50 AND 100 HR INSPECTIONS. THE BRACKET HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME SO IT WAS MISSED ON BOTH THE 100 AND 50 HR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude when pilot was distracted by a fuel leak.