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Exhaust fumes in rear cockpit of PT26

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:44 pm
by sednaj46
'I recently purchased Paul Conwell's PT26 in Hayward, CA (N48705, Serial #7493AE). When I went to get checked out, so much exhaust was getting into the rear cockpit that my check-out instructor got sick and we had to quit early. I smelled nothing up front. Opening the rear canopy a few inches did not help. The engine has the standard two part exhaust stacks, one front, one rear. It just came out of annual and there were no defects noted, nor could I see any problems at the flanges, etc. On the chance that there may be a leak in one of the inner flange gaskets, we are going to replace them, as well as the outer gaskets. Neither the mechanic nor I can think of any other source of a leak that would allow exhaust to migrate back into the cockpit.

Has anyone had a problem with exhaust fumes getting into the rear cockpit? Could a gap in the wing fillet joint be a route of entry? Any suggestions? I am planning to fly the PT26 back to New Hampshire in two weeks with my daughter as "co-pilot" in the back seat, but will have to come solo if we can't get this fixed.

Finally, any words of wisdom for a flatlander flying across the country for the first time? We are planning to go south to Bakersfield to avoid the high mountains and follow old route 66 IFR (I Follow Roads). This is a great group and I look forward to participating.

Thanks,

Jeff Clark (Sedna is the name of my boat, a J46)'

Re: Exhaust fumes in rear cockpit of PT26

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:07 pm
by David Stroud
'Hope you get the exhaust fumes figured out, Jeff. Words of wisdom ? Don't drop anything out of
the PT over Route 66. Look down, we'll be heading East in our ivory coloured 57 Porsche Speedster
in early May so don't drop anything. I used to sail quite a bit....the J's are nice.

David Stroud Ottawa, Canada
Christavia C-FDWS
Fairchild 51 replica
under construction C-FYXV
----- Original Message -----
From: sednaj46
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:44 PM
Subject: [fairchildclub] Exhaust fumes in rear cockpit of PT26



I recently purchased Paul Conwell's PT26 in Hayward, CA (N48705, Serial #7493AE). When I went to get checked out, so much exhaust was getting into the rear cockpit that my check-out instructor got sick and we had to quit early. I smelled nothing up front. Opening the rear canopy a few inches did not help. The engine has the standard two part exhaust stacks, one front, one rear. It just came out of annual and there were no defects noted, nor could I see any problems at the flanges, etc. On the chance that there may be a leak in one of the inner flange gaskets, we are going to replace them, as well as the outer gaskets. Neither the mechanic nor I can think of any other source of a leak that would allow exhaust to migrate back into the cockpit.

Has anyone had a problem with exhaust fumes getting into the rear cockpit? Could a gap in the wing fillet joint be a route of entry? Any suggestions? I am planning to fly the PT26 back to New Hampshire in two weeks with my daughter as "co-pilot" in the back seat, but will have to come solo if we can't get this fixed.

Finally, any words of wisdom for a flatlander flying across the country for the first time? We are planning to go south to Bakersfield to avoid the high mountains and follow old route 66 IFR (I Follow Roads). This is a great group and I look forward to participating.

Thanks,

Jeff Clark (Sedna is the name of my boat, a J46)






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Re: Exhaust fumes in rear cockpit of PT26

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:20 pm
by Curt Kinchen
'It's pretty common depending upon the length of the rear stack(s). A lot of
the stacks, like those formed with welded seams (as opposed to those made up
from tube stock), have very short rear stacks that put the exhaust plume
over the wing instead of under it. The new ones made by Aerospace Welding
are longer, but I think they could be longer still.

I've had complaints from the rear passenger in the PT-19, but not so much in
the 26.

I think that gaps around the edge of the wing fillet could be a source of
entry(vs the cockpit area). You might, as an experiment try taping any
suspected gaps just to see if it makes a difference.

--
Curt Kinchen
ptcurt@gmail.com


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