Water on floor on pilot's side? Need help

[Rick Junkin]

The carpet on the pilot's side floor was soaked when I climbed in yesterday after the airplane sat out in light to moderate rain for two days. I'll be pulling the seats, carpet and side panels to try and find the source, but nothing obvious is jumping out at me. Thoughts?

A few details. I had the windscreen resealed about a year ago because it was leaking at the top, and it looks good. They did a good job. The IFR window was latched closed with no evidence of water on the side window or inside panel surfaces. The only possible entry point on the outside is a small gap, no more than about 3/64", where the lower windscreen skirt piece extends on the side of the fuselage for a few inches past the right bottom side of the windscreen. I haven't looked yet but I don't think there's a water path from there to the inside. I did get a new instrument panel last year and they mounted the OAT probes on the fuselage side in that area (GAAAAHHH!!!) but they're tight and sealed.

Any suggestions on where I should be looking once I get the seats/carpet/panels out?

[PT20J]

Bummer, Rick.

I’d check the storm window gasket by spraying it with a hose just to be sure.

The NACA scoop for the knee Wemac vent should have a drain hole through the fuselage skin at the lower aft corner. I’d check that it’s not obstructed.

[Rick Junkin]

20 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Bummer, Rick.

I’d check the storm window gasket by spraying it with a hose just to be sure.

The NACA scoop for the knee Wemac vent should have a drain hole through the fuselage skin at the lower aft corner. I’d check that it’s not obstructed.

Thanks Skip, I'll do the hose check on the storm window first. The wet spot is forward of the storm window and here was no water on the side panel or arm rest so I'm not initially hopeful. Although I guess if it's leaking it could be flowing down the side window behind the interior panel and following structure forward? I hadn't considered that until just now. I'll find out soon enough.

Here's an older pic showing the exterior area of interest. The the windscreen skirt gap I referenced is just below and forward of the pilot window. There's no NACA scoop on my TLS/Bravo and I have no idea where the air comes from for the knee vent 

[PT20J]

I believe Byron @jetdriven has replaced windshields, so he would likely know if the windshield retainer could be the problem.

Don Maxwell told me that when the storm windows leak, water often runs down between the window and the trim. It collects on the window retainer channel that is PK-screwed to a tube and rusts out the screws and that's how the water gets into the tubular structure. But now that I think about it, if water runs behind the trim I think it would go into the wing root and down to the belly. I don't think it would get on the carpet. But it's easy to check.

[Fritz1]

sounds like something is going on around the left side of the windshield and the windshield retainer, but maybe also bottom edge of pilot window, if no water trails evident dust the suspect area with baby powder on the inside and spray with hose on the outside

[skykrawler]

Not possible it's de-ice fluid is it?

[Rick Junkin]

1 hour ago, skykrawler said:

Not possible it's de-ice fluid is it?

Good question - it didn't feel like TKS fluid, I'm pretty sure it was water. Haven't made it back out to the airplane yet.

[Yetti]

Could also be the side window leaking along with the vent window.

[A64Pilot]

May sound silly, but it’s worked for me on boats finding a deck leak, water can leak in one place then travel before it leaks out.

Stick a vacuum hose into the vent window and seal the hole with whatever you can, foam, tape whatever, then turn the vacuum on blow with all the vents closed and the door shut of course, maybe tape the vents shut on the outside with blue painters tape if you have to. First feel around for any air flow, maybe use a candle or smoke and or maybe soapy water in a water bottle.

Boats I used a blower fan, but assume a shop vac would work for an airplane, but I’ve not done it on an airplane.

I had a C-210 that it was the base of the windshield, water leaked into the Avionics.

If you have ever seen a house tested for air leaks, same deal just in reverse.

[Rick Junkin]

On 11/18/2024 at 1:21 PM, skykrawler said:

Not possible it's de-ice fluid is it?

 

On 11/18/2024 at 2:57 PM, Rick Junkin said:

Good question - it didn't feel like TKS fluid, I'm pretty sure it was water. Haven't made it back out to the airplane yet.

I believe it is indeed TKS fluid.

I ran the TKS on the previous flight and didn’t notice anything abnormal, but discovered today that my prop slingers aren’t getting any fluid. (I know, should have caught that during preflight but I didn’t prime the system that day, didn’t think I’d need it). It’s highly probable the line to the slingers is leaking and flowing the fluid behind the side panel and on to the cockpit floor.

Annual is next month, one more thing added to the list.

Good call, @skykrawler.

[Pinecone]

I would hit this now.  TKS fluid turns acidic over time.  Get it cleaned up and the leak fixed.