A husky A-1B aircraft factory fuel caps were removed/replaced with non standard caps. Rudder and ele...

Attributes
ACN	741637
Time
Date	200701
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Ag Wagon 188/Ag Truck/Ag Husky
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 920 flight time type : 310
ASRS Report	741637
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Factory fuel caps were removed and replaced with non-standard caps which are vented and contain a check valve. Factory caps are not vented. Fuel vent system is prone to plugging leading to a fuel starvation problem. Rudder stops were readjusted to provide full rudder deflection. 3 springs on rudder control system were removed to reestablish 'feel' in the rudder pedals. Elevator stop readjusted to provide full nose up deflection in elevator. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states this aircraft is certified to be 'spin proof' and these rudder springs will center the rudder in a spin and help to control the aircraft. However; this tail dragger type aircraft had better 'feel' in the rudder pedals after the three rudder springs were removed. The elevator and rudder stops were 're-adjusted' to allow for better 3-POINT landings of this tail dragger aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HUSKY A-1B ACFT FACTORY FUEL CAPS WERE REMOVED/REPLACED WITH NON STANDARD CAPS. RUDDER AND ELEVATOR STOPS ALSO RE-ADJUSTED.

Narrative: FACTORY FUEL CAPS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH NON-STANDARD CAPS WHICH ARE VENTED AND CONTAIN A CHK VALVE. FACTORY CAPS ARE NOT VENTED. FUEL VENT SYS IS PRONE TO PLUGGING LEADING TO A FUEL STARVATION PROB. RUDDER STOPS WERE READJUSTED TO PROVIDE FULL RUDDER DEFLECTION. 3 SPRINGS ON RUDDER CTL SYS WERE REMOVED TO REESTABLISH 'FEEL' IN THE RUDDER PEDALS. ELEVATOR STOP READJUSTED TO PROVIDE FULL NOSE UP DEFLECTION IN ELEVATOR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATES THIS ACFT IS CERTIFIED TO BE 'SPIN PROOF' AND THESE RUDDER SPRINGS WILL CENTER THE RUDDER IN A SPIN AND HELP TO CONTROL THE ACFT. HOWEVER; THIS TAIL DRAGGER TYPE ACFT HAD BETTER 'FEEL' IN THE RUDDER PEDALS AFTER THE THREE RUDDER SPRINGS WERE REMOVED. THE ELEVATOR AND RUDDER STOPS WERE 'RE-ADJUSTED' TO ALLOW FOR BETTER 3-POINT LANDINGS OF THIS TAIL DRAGGER ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A husky A-1B aircraft factory fuel caps were removed/replaced with non standard caps. Rudder and elevator stops also re-adjusted.