Oxygen Leak

[Parker_Woodruff]

Well, this one promises to be a pain.  Plane came out of the shop and the first thing I notice is the O2 pressure has gone from ~1300 PSI down to about 100 PSI.  I plug in a cannula, and even with the oxygen valve at the pilot seat switched to OFF, there is still barely enough oxygen flowing through the Flowmeter to register a flow adequate for use at 10,000 feet.

I check two different oxygen ports and they're both doing the same thing. It shouldn't matter as the O2 should shut off anyway when the Scott fitting isn't in the O2 port (unless there's some gunk that's leaving one of the ports slightly open.

So I go check the switch again and just as always you turn it counterclockwise to turn off and it wants to dial maybe 20 degrees clockwise.  it's always done that and I've never had a leaking problem...maybe it's just some spring or something.

So the plane gets pulled back into the hangar and the cover at the empenage is opened up.  We fill to 1500 PSI.  Sprayed down the lines and connectors with soapy water and no bubbles show.  So this means that the leak is somewhere behind one of the cabin panels. *oh joy*.  The bottle is losing about 150-200 PSI per day.

Has anyone else found such a leak at the lines running around the cabin?  Any tips on which interior panels to remove and check first?  Does anyone else's on/off knob turn back slightly clockwise after turning the system off?  Again, mine has always done this, but never leaked.

I don't have to fly anything high altitude thru July 20 when the plane goes into the paint shop, but would like to get this fixed before then.

[DonMuncy]

Parker,

My O2 system ran down on a continuous basis, and it turned out to be the regulator valve (the one that turns off and on with the lever on the cabin wall). I would suggest that you open the panel at the battery and reach in and turn off the valve by hand while the tank is full. Wait a few days and see if it holds pressure. If it does, the valve is not closing properly. If that is the case, PM me or repost and I'll tell you how to fix it.

 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Thanks Don. 

I'll Try to get ahold of some O2 tomorrow and get the bottle filled somewhat and see if that works

[jackn]

Had a similar leak, not as bad as yours but was driving me nuts. Nobody back east could find it. While flying to Colorado, stopped at BJC, Denver Air. They told me they see these issues a lot. One hour and it was fixed. The O2 dial was not moving on its own though.

[Seth]

Good luck with the O2 issue parker - separately, you mentioned your 252 is going in for paint . . . did I miss the design thread?  How do you envision 252BH looking in the near future?

-Seth

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: Seth

Good luck with the O2 issue parker - separately, you mentioned your 252 is going in for paint . . . did I miss the design thread?  How do you envision 252BH looking in the near future?

-Seth

[MooneyMitch]

That's just COOL!  Super exciting!!! 

[Seth]

Great design Parker - I like them both!

[231Pilot]

I like the designs...Brian does great work.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  Who is doing your paint?

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: 201Pilot

I like the designs...Brian does great work.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  Who is doing your paint?

[jetdriven]

IIRC if your bottle goes to zero, you have to have a new hydro inspection done.  So, no matter what, It was always "1 PSI" at removal.  Thats how the airlines do it.

[M016576]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

It will look similar to one of these two...  The tail number will be changing to N290 (no significance).

Black Metallic, Platium metallic, silver or deep red metallic.

[N601RX]

Assuming it has a diaphram like a welding regualtor, the rubber diaphram is the most likely source of the leak.

[fantom]

Quote: M016576

Very Nice:  looks a lot like Scott's 201.  Was that your inspiration?  If I had seen his design before mine went into the shop I would have done similar (but w/dark green or dark blue instead of dark red).  Very nice!

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: M016576

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: fantom

[fantom]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

...you'll notice there's not quite so much undulation on my design compared to fantom's..

[KSMooniac]

Brian has a real eye for making paint on Mooneys look great IMO, and that is not an easy task!  Earlier this week I put up some new aerial photos in my gallery that show the paint from different views that you don't see on the ground, and it looks even better IMO.  He did a great job working with my wishes to come up with a great scheme that complements the Mooney lines beautifully.

[fantom]

Quote: fantom

I would like to believe that I helped Parker, Lew, and Scott decide what they liked in the way of a design. Check my photo gallery.

I used Hawk Painting in Tampa two and a half years ago. Same place Parker is planning on using. They are top notch, the owner, Joe, is a painter with over 30 years experience, and has painted numerous Mooneys. His prices are fair, and he is well versed in protecting panels so fuel tanks don't leak due to stripper damage.

I can't say enough about Dallas designer Brian Smith, or Tampa painter, Joe Dinolfo. Thanks to both of you

 

 

[M016576]

Quote: fantom

I would like to believe that I helped Parker, Lew, and Scott decide what they liked in the way of a design. Check my photo gallery.

After collecting 100's of Mooney pictures, I picked out about 10 and sent them to Brian Smith, who is excellent at convering ideas into drawings. He sent drawings to me, which I played with for about a year, until Scott gave me "motivation" to finally get my plane painted. I introduced him to Brian (along with Lew, and Parker, later) and Scott and I shared lots of concepts and had our planes painted at about the same time, but in different locations.

I used Hawk Painting in Tampa two and a half years ago. Same place Parker is planning on using. They are top notch, the owner, Joe, is a painter with over 30 years experience, and has painted numerous Mooneys. His prices are fair, and he is well versed in protecting panels so fuel tanks don't leak due to stripper damage.

I can't say enough about Dallas designer Brian Smith, or Tampa painter, Joe Dinolfo. Thanks to both of you