Fuel Tank on NX41CC

Created Feb. 26, 2008

Here's a shot looking at the bottom of the fuel tank as it was when I got it from Corky, but just after the nose-over incident, looking through the gap where the lower section of the 2-piece firewall has been removed. Passenger's seat in the center of the photo, passenger's control stick, left and right brakes. Standard Cessna fuel on-off valve with Bowden cable operation via a push-pull knob in the pilot's cockpit, two padded metal support straps, and the bottom of the tank slopes towards the drain.

Here's a shot of the front of the fuselage with the firewall and fuel tank removed, showing the crossmember that broke in the nose-over, right where the AN3 bolt went through it. The two fuel tank support straps are also visible. The two small corner gussets under the front crossmember were replaced during the repair with much longer verticals to buttress the crossmember. The starboard gusset broke free at the glue lines in the nose-over.

This shot shows the new crossmembers in place along with the new false front half-bulkhead that backs up the top part of the stainless steel firewall, and also shows the strap that goes over the fuel tank to secure it.

Here's the fuel tank as it was when Corky first installed it. I was mistaken about it having 'shoulders' that rest on the longerons... instead, it has a 'shoulder' along the back face that rests on a crossmember. Next picture should show it better.

This shot, with the original firewall in place, shows the 'shoulder' or shelf welded into the aft side of the fuel tank to provide a bit more capacity as well as provide support on the crossmember.