SUBJECT: ERCOUPE GASCOLATOR NIPPLE REPLACEMENT
Dear Aircraft Owner:
An Airworthiness Directive is being issued concerning the aluminum nipple (AN911-2D) located between
the gascolator and brass carburetor inlet elbow. This Airworthiness Directive applies to all Ercoupes that
have the gascolator attached to the side of the carburetor. Ercoupe Service Bulletin No. 24 issued by Erco
applied to this subject already, but compliance is now being made mandatory via A.D. action. Ercoupe
Service Bulletin No. 24A supersedes the original bulletin and further specifies that the double gascolator
braces, used on Ercoupe S/N 4051 and subsequent, be installed on all earlier serial number aircraft. The
aluminum nipple must still be replaced with an AN911-2 brass or steel nipple as called out in the original
bulletin.
In the intervening years since Ercoupes were produced it seems that many aircraft have had the factory
iinstalled gascolator braces removed without authorization. The absence of these braces will put appreciable
strain on the gascolator to carburetor nipple and may lead to eventual fatigue failure of the original aluminum
nipple. As a matter of fact, the National Transportation Safety Board learned that only 7 of 18 Ercoupes
surveyed at a recent fly-in/meeting of Ercoupe owners used a gascolator brace of any kind.
All Ercoupe Parts Manuals and Service Bulletins are being revised to show the incorporation of brass or
steel gascolator piping and the addition of braces 48076 and 48096 to all Ercoupes that have the
gascolator attached to the side of the carburetor. Enclosed are peel and stick adhesive backed updates for
the Ercoupe Parts Manual and replacement pages for the Forney Parts Manual. If you already have these
manuals please add these updates to your manual. Univair AirCraft Corporation Service Kit No. SK-76
contains all the parts necessary to provide correct gascolator support. New brass or steel elbows and
nipples, brace tubes, and all clamping hardware are included in this kit.
For further information regarding gascolator nipple replacement or any other Ercoupe service problem
please contact the Ercoupe Type Certificate holder, Univair Aircraft Corporation, at 303-364-7661 or Telex
317327.
Sincerely,
See Signature
B. Craig Baldwin
Univair Engineering Department
ERCOUPE
MANDATORY
No. 12 and 24
SUBJECT: Nipple AN 911-2D, replacement of (alignment and checking of gascolator)
Applicable to all Ercoupe;
415; 415C; 415D; 415CD; 415E
Forney F1; F1A; 415G
COMPLIANCE: Mandatory
This Bulletin superceeds Ercoupe Memorandum No. 52 and Ercoupe Bulletins No. 12 and No. 24.
A few failures have been reported of the nipple AN911-2D (aluminum), located between the gascolator and
the steel or brass elbow in the carburetor, (as illustrated in the Ercoupe Parts Catalog, page 26, index 55).
Apparently, these failures have been caused by improper installation of this nipple, either by incorrect
alignment or excessive tightening. In the intervening years since Ercoupes were produced it seems that
many aircraft have had the factory installed gascolator braces removed without authorization, which will also
put appreciable strains on the nipple.
On Ercoupes (SN 4501 & later) that have a factory installed double support for the inlet end of the gascolator
attached to the carburetor, this support will put an appreciable strain on the connection between the
gascolator and elbow if the system is improperly aligned. The gascolator piping can be properly aligned by
using a wrench on the steel or brass elbow (AN914-2) which connects the gascolator to the carburetor. This
elbow should be turned so that the 6-32 screw, which connects the clamp around the 45° elbow to the double
tube support, can be inserted in its hole without straining.
It is required that within the next 25 hours of operation, or at the next annual inspection, or at the time when
the gascolator is removed, whichever occurs first, the nipple AN911-2D (aluminum) be replaced by
AN911-2 (brass or steel). Tighten nipple to not more than 7 to 8 ft. lbs. of torque. If torque is reached before
gascolator is aligned, continue tightening until proper alignment is obtained. The double support tubes (PN
48076 and 48096) must be added at this time, if not already installed, on all Ercoupes having the gascolator
connected to the side of the carburetor. A brass or steel elbow (AN914-2) should already be installed at the
carburetor inlet per AD 46-38-03. It is also recommended that the gascolator piping on all Ercoupes affected
be properly aligned as prescribed above. The alignment should be checked at the next routine inspection,
and whenever the gascolator is removed. The AN911-2 nipple is a standard AN part and may be purchased
locally, or from UNIVAIR AIRCRAFT CORPORATION.
UNIVAIR AIRCRAFT CORPORATION Service Kit No. SK-76 contains all the parts necessary to provide
correct gascolator support for Ercoupes having the gascolator connected to the side of the carburetor. New
brass or steel elbows and nipples, brace tubes, and clamping hardware are included in this kit.
