04 Dec 2025, 07:23 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Flint Aero tanks on a 206h  Posted: 21 Sep 2017, 11:32 |
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Joined: 06/09/11
Posts: 98
Post Likes: +32
Company: Prospect Engineering
Aircraft: Cessna TU206F
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Username Protected wrote: I installed them on my TU206F. They increase aspect ratio so at high altitudes you'll get a slight speed increase. I usually keep 7gals in each tip and use it when a flight doesn't go as planned(usually due to Wx). It's nice to not have to worry about not having enough fuel when things go unexpected. If you are light, the plane will fly at slower speeds but the rudder, ailerons and elevator are quite effective(there are no Vmc issues). For grins, to simulate a broken transfer pump, I've flown at pattern speed with one tip full and the other side empty and it flys OK(but you do feel the imbalance). If IFR, I always transfer 1/2 from each at a time to avoid potential full/empty imbalance. It has no effect on my KFC200 autopilot. Thanks Steve. Why do you say "avoid potential full/empty imbalance" ? Did you mean imbalance from each tank?
The main tank is divided in two....Right and Left. Fuel from the right Tip is transferred(via a pump) into the right main, left tip to the left main. There are two transfer pumps, one each for right/left. A full tip weighs 15galsX6lbs/gal=90lbs plus the weight of the tip itself. So you are looking at over 100lbs out at the tip of the wing. In the STC there is a restriction that you must NOT run the engine from the side that you are transferring fuel from the tip to the main. You can't pump from both tips at the same time. Pumps can fail. So if you transfer 100% of the fuel from a tip to one side of the main(not an unreasonable thing to do in cruise where the imbalance is not as noticeable), you are at risk of an imbalance if the opposite side pump fails during it's transfer(gravity feed is not possible) . To mitigate this potential issue, I suggest you only transfer 1/2 the tip at a time to minimize the amount of imbalance(which would not be fun in IMC).
This detail(above) is not really covered in the AFMS for the tips.
Don't lose sight of the fact that the fuel in the tips is 20 minutes away due to transfer time and you must plan accordingly. The best approach is to transfer as soon as there is room in the mains to insure you can get to the fuel(assuming you are planning to use it).
Who's thought that something so simple as a tip tank could be so complicated?
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Post subject: Re: Flint Aero tanks on a 206h Posted: 23 Sep 2017, 15:27 |
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Joined: 04/23/11
Posts: 1554
Post Likes: +1398
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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I added them to my 2007 T206H. I flew the plane only for a week or so before adding them so cannot comment on changes in flight characteristics. I was satisfied with handling, before and after installation. The increased useful load is great. So is the increased fuel capacity. However, I would pay very close attention to the recommendations of others to pump fuel as early in the flight as room exists in the main tanks. On more than one occasion, the transfer pumps did not pump. Since that happened, I never trusted them. To paraphrase the Cirrus BRS saying, "pump early and pump often". On multiple occasions when the pumps did not work, I violently shook the plane by stomping hard on the rudder - right, left, right, left. That broke the airlock or whatever was stopping the pumps from working. If it happens to you, slosh 'em vigorously and they should start pumping. But warn your passengers 
_________________
Jim
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Post subject: Re: Flint Aero tanks on a 206h Posted: 25 Sep 2017, 19:48 |
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Joined: 07/03/17
Posts: 178
Post Likes: +58
Location: Philippine Islands
Aircraft: C T206 RP-C1100
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Username Protected wrote: I added them to my 2007 T206H. I flew the plane only for a week or so before adding them so cannot comment on changes in flight characteristics. I was satisfied with handling, before and after installation. The increased useful load is great. So is the increased fuel capacity. However, I would pay very close attention to the recommendations of others to pump fuel as early in the flight as room exists in the main tanks. On more than one occasion, the transfer pumps did not pump. Since that happened, I never trusted them. To paraphrase the Cirrus BRS saying, "pump early and pump often". On multiple occasions when the pumps did not work, I violently shook the plane by stomping hard on the rudder - right, left, right, left. That broke the airlock or whatever was stopping the pumps from working. If it happens to you, slosh 'em vigorously and they should start pumping. But warn your passengers Hahahaha Thanks Jim. So the issue isn't on the pumps? It's more about having an air lock in the tanks?
_________________
"Speak softly and carry a machine gun"
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Post subject: Re: Flint Aero tanks on a 206h Posted: 27 Sep 2017, 11:14 |
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Joined: 06/09/11
Posts: 98
Post Likes: +32
Company: Prospect Engineering
Aircraft: Cessna TU206F
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Username Protected wrote: On multiple occasions when the pumps did not work, I violently shook the plane by stomping hard on the rudder - right, left, right, left. That broke the airlock or whatever was stopping the pumps from working. If it happens to you, slosh 'em vigorously and they should start pumping. I brought up the imbalance and transfer technique as just a precaution to be prepared if a pump failure occurs. I have never had any issues with my system and I do use it quite a bit. Jim, The tips are vented(sometimes fuel will spill out when full and turning tight while taxiing or flying uncoordinated) with no check valves in the system. The pumps and the inlet lines from the tank to the pumps are setup such that the pumps are gravity primed. There is really no way to have a vapor lock occur. There are no fuel sumps in the tips so as you get close to an empty tank it is possible to un-port and suck some air but due to the gravity prime...it never vapor locks. If your pumps work, you should not have to agitate the plane to get the fuel transferred. If the fuel lines from the tips to the pumps have any uphill twists to them, then you've lost gravity priming and you can have the issue you are having. Check your vents for blockage to. If this has occurred since the install....I suspect the install is incorrect. You should have someone knowledgeable look at it(not the guys that did the install).
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