Water on the floor
good afternoon all
i I know the basic answers for seals and windows and such. My plane has a cover but it was a hard rain. Anyone having problems with vents maybe? Or something unusual to look into? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see the plane fast enough to find a water trail. Thanks for your input.
bill
Comments
Af
Can you give a little better idea of where the water is located in the cabin? If you have a DC-3 it may be a little harder to figure it out so maybe what kind of airplane too? Carl
49 yrs A/P IA DAL A/C inspector. 172N Rotax IRMT 912/914
Piper Cherokee. 180. In front of the beam on the floor in front of the seats. Just behind the air vents. I’m going to take the post down. I think it’s the vents. Thanks for trying to help.
Roger that but make sure your wing root seal in that area Left and right sides are in good shape. Any water coming down the side of the fuselage in that area could still get into the vent hole to the fuselage. Carl
49 yrs A/P IA DAL A/C inspector. 172N Rotax IRMT 912/914
Copy. I was thinking about that too. It is older. Have to get access to a hose. I’m on a ramp. Then I can test a few things. Appreciate you!
bill
Bill;
Excellent advice from Carl, as usual.
Couple suggestions:
The PA28 door seals are notorious for leaking, and as you already stated, our 40+ year old window seals should be suspect as well. Don't ask how I know.
You're on the right track. Pull the carpet up and sit in the plane with the door closed and latched. Have a friend hose the plane down with a garden hose from outside and look for leaks or drips. If you can't easily see the leaks, coat the inside (and floor) of your plane with paper towels and look for the wet spots. Note that where the water drips from may not be the source of the leak. Water will run down wiring, framing, capillaries, or hoses until it finds a drip point. Again, don't ask how I know. 😌
There is good news though. After resealing the side windows, replacing the windshields, replaced the lower corner windshield brackets, and the door seal, I have not had a drop of water in my plane for over 16 years.
Let us know what you find.
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Thanks for the tips! Much appreciated.
I have heard the door seals are lousy after a while and pretty sure the door and the body are torqued a bit from too. I am more curious about the vents as the water is all in front of the beam about under my knees in if I’m sitting the cabin. Other good news is it’s just a rubber matting not carpet. So clean up was easy. Thanks again. I’ll post what I find in hopes that it may help someone else. 🙂
If it is the wing root seals, find a warm space during their replacement. Cold seals (both old and new) are not fun. Had mine replaced in the middle of winter, in an unheated hangar, which was around freezing at that time, and paid the A&P for all that extra fun.
Thank you for the tip Jacob! I will make sure to keep that in mind. Fly safe!!