Blue Sticky in New Baby at Annual

[rubixcube2k3]

Hey Everyone! So, we finished the prebuy last week and my AI has the new baby in his hangar to complete the Annual as part of the agreement. Everything on the prebuy went without a hitch, and no major squaks were found the airframe was Solid and Corrosion free! Wooo Hoo! (I had 2 other prebuys end prematurely because people tried to sell me planes with corroded wings...I can land a glider, but I don't prefer to try to glide without a trail or a wing.)  Other than that, a little crushed rust was in the oil filter, but a quick review of the logs showed that she spent all but 20 hrs of the past 2 years in her hangar. 3 different uninvolved A&Ps said that a little runtime, oil analysis and 5,10, and 15 hr changes to monitor the progress would be in order, but that the metal leftovers wasn't a deal-breaker since she has 3 steel cylinders. However, I noticed something on the carpet behind the left seat and noticed more as I took the interior out of the plane to assist with the Annual (figured I could get very familiar if I help prepare the plane for the annual and attend to see what's going on). My AI is supposed to check tomorrow, but the suspense is killing me to know before. On the fuel level senders, the top of the shelf where the seats go (I guess the center of the wing spar inside the plane???) and on under the duct tape securing 2 of the 8 aluminum service panels under the seat, I found a thick blue sticky substance.  Am I right to assume that this is dried AVGAS? Or could it possibly be Corrosion-X or ACF-50? I'm entertaining changing the carpet (it's the only original interior item remaining) but don't want to swap it if there's the possibility of ruining the new carpet. Any thoughts and ideas are welcomed. All good advice will be heeded :-) Sorry that I don't have any pictures to show, as I didn't realize that my camera was in my bookbag until I got back to the house.

 

~Cube

[rogerl]

Quote: rubixcube2k3

[...]  On the fuel level senders, the top of the shelf where the seats go (I guess the center of the wing spar inside the plane???) and on under the duct tape securing 2 of the 8 aluminum service panels under the seat, I found a thick blue sticky substance.  Am I right to assume that this is dried AVGAS? Or could it possibly be Corrosion-X or ACF-50? I'm entertaining changing the carpet (it's the only original interior item remaining) but don't want to swap it if there's the possibility of ruining the new carpet. Any thoughts and ideas are welcomed. [...]

 

~Cube

[KLRDMD]

Quote: rubixcube2k3

Hey Everyone! So, we finished the prebuy last week and my AI has the new baby in his hangar to complete the Annual as part of the agreement. 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: JimR

Don Maxwell in Texas is very well thought of for partial tank reseals, and he's not too far away from you.  Unless it is just the senders leaking, I'd get a pro like him to work on the tanks.  Odds are that anyone else will just make them worse.

Jim   

[rubixcube2k3]

Quote: KLRDMD

AI is attitude indicator. I assume you mean IA (an A&P with Inspection Authorization).

[rubixcube2k3]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

And he also has a license to use Willmar's process should you need the full reseal.

[231Pilot]

Go with a pro.  Saving money by using someone who is not well schooled on Mooney sealant issues can get to be very expensive (don't ask how I know).

[carusoam]

That's is a lot of blue in the cabin...

If it were a bolt, a screw or a rivet or two that were seaping, I would try locally. 

Fuel running across the back bench and a year's supply of blue pigment in the cockpit might be enough for me to seek expert help.

The cleaning you should be able to do yourself.  Try and identify what is leaking and how bad it really is.

While you are there check the health of the "rubber" fuel lines.  They can often be old, cracked and a large source of fuel leakage.

What do the logs say?  ...If this is all original sealant that is 40 years old, I'm with Lew.  Chasing leak after leak gets expensive quick.  Unfortunately Patch on top of patch is not generally going to improve things either.

Long putt (or good luck):  The tanks have been resealed in the late 20th century and somebody just did poor work resealing the fuel level senders, maybe a reseal on these fasteners is all that is needed?

If you can get to an MSC (Maxwell because he has the process) they can inspect and advise of how to handle. 

With fuel tank leaks, experience REALLY counts...

If you want to try your luck.  Clean up the fuel stains.  Have your IA reseal the obvious issues. 

Aside from what the law says, I would not want to be in the same cabin that fuel leaks into.

Best regards,

-a-