ALPHA Trainer Manual Final.pdf - Pipistrel

8-2 ALPHA Trainer
REV. 0 Handling and maintenance
Special inspections
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After having exceeded VNE or landed in a rough manner:
Check the undercarriage, fuselage & wing surfaces and main spars for abnormalities. It is highly
recommended to have the aircraft verified for airworthiness by authorised service personnel.
Clicking noise overhead
The wings are factory fitted to the fuselage to make a tight fit at approximately 80 F. When exposed
to low temperatures, materials shrink. Therefore, flying in the winter or in cold temperatures, you
may encounter “click-clack” like noises above your head. The remedy for this unpleasant noises is to
add washers, tipically of 0,5 mm thickness in-between wing and fuselage. Washers must be added
both at rear and front bushings at one side of the fuselage only!
WARNING! It is mandatory to consult the manufacturer or authorised service personnel
before applying washers!
Draining and refuelling
Whenever draining or refuelling make sure master switch is set to OFF.
Draining the fuel system
The gascolator is located beneath the bottom engine cover on the left hand side of the fuselage.
To drain the fuel system, open the drain valve on the gascolator. Drain approximately 1/2 cup of fuel.
Try to prevent ground pollution by collecting the fuel with a canister.
To close the valve simply turn it in the opposite direction. Do not use force or special tools!
CAUTION! Always drain the fuel system before you have moved the aircraft from a standstill to
prevent mixing of the fuel and eventual water or particles.
Refuelling
CAUTION! Before refuelling it is necessary to ground the aircraft!
Refuelling can be done by pouring fuel through the fuel tank opening on top/side of the fuselage or
by using the single point fueling valve on the lower firewall.
Refuelling using the electrical fuel pump:
First, make sure that the fuel shut-off valve is open.
Connect one end of the fuel pump to the valve beneath the bottom engine cowl. Submerge the
other end of the fuel pump, which has a filter attached, into the fuel container.
Engage the fuel pump by engaging the 12 V socket switch on the instrument panel.
After refuelling it is recommended to eliminate eventual air pockets from inside the fuel system. To
do that, drain some fuel with both fuel valves fully open.
Also, leave the engine running at idle power for a couple of minutes prior to taking-off and test the
engine at full power for a minimum of 30 seconds.
Should you be experiencing slow refuelling with the electrical fuel pump, you should replace the fil-