Aluminim Fuel Line Tee Cracks - in flight leak

[Stephan Mackenzie]

A local pilot/owner did a short flight ( under 1 hour ) upon arriving he was surprised at how much fuel he was indicating, but didn't act on it, when he landed he was directed to the ramp, and prior to re-entering the taxiway for the runway, he was asked by the tower to basically do a 360, so another plane could access the taxiway ahead of him.

When he was half way through his turn on the ramp, he noticed a rainbow film on the ground, and got clearance to park, turned off fuel and started looking.

Upon opening the cowl, he could not see the issue until he once again turned on the fuel and electric pump...

At this point it was clear that the aluminum Tee near the engine pump was fractured and leaking.

We figure if this PA24-250 didn't have the dual exhaust STC, it would have ended badly.

As it was, a local AME had a steel Tee fitting, to replace the aluminum one, and he was on his way.

For the $10 and 30 minutes it will take, if you still have an aluminum tee here, I would suggest changing it out.

Thats my 2 cents for the day.

Stephan
58 Comanche 250

[N3322G]

Nice to have a happy ending on this one.