1. Initial Pilot Ground School
EC 130 B4
Initial Pilot Ground School
Chapter 10
Fuel System

2. Chapter 10 - Fuel System
Overview of the Fuel System ……...…………………….….……………
Fuel System Schematic ……………………………………………………. 10.4
Fuel System Components …………….……………………………...…… 10.5
Fuel System Caution Lights ……………….……………………………… 10.6
Fuel Tank Characteristics …..…………...………………………………… 10.7
Fuel Tank Vent ………...……………………………………………………
Fuel Filter …………………….………….……………………………………
Starting Fuel Pump …………….………...…………………………………
Fuel Quantity Probe …………………...……………………………………
Fuel Indicating …………….…………………………………………………
Fuel Low Light System …………………….………………………………
Emergency Fuel Shut-Off Lever ……….………………………………… 10.23
Emergency Fuel Shut-Off Valve …………………………………………
Fuel Caution Light …………………………………………………………
Fuel Pressure Caution Light ……………………………………………… 10.30
Fuel Filter Caution Light ………………………………………… &
Review Questions …………………………………………………………
10.2

3. Overview of the Fuel System
The fuel system in the EC130B4 incorporates the traditional, non-baffled
polycarbonate 143 gallon fuel tank.
Fuel quantity is determined by a capacitance probe, with the fuel gauge
displayed on the VEMD.
There is a single boost “starting” pump that is used only for starting,
and is then turned off. The engine uses a low and high pressure pump
to draw fuel from the fuel tank.
The fuel filter, differential pressure and low pressure switches are
located on the fuel control, not on the MGB deck as in the AS350’s.
The fuel is routed through the oil filter housing for preheating, therefore,
anti-icing additive is not required until temperatures are below minus 200 C.
Fuel monitoring is through the quantity gauge (VEMD), FUEL P, FUEL,
and FUEL FILT caution lights. There is no fuel pressure gauge.
For those who are familiar with the AS350 B3 fuel system, this is almost
identical.
10.3

4. Fuel System Schematic
40 bar
10 bar
.5 bar
10.4

5. Fuel System Components
To High Pressure Pump D
Fuel capacity is 143 gals. (or 540 liters)
20 micron fuel filter element
Fuel quantity is displayed on the VEMD
10.5

6. Fuel System Caution Lights
10.6

7. Fuel Tank Characteristics
Fuel tank capacity US gallons (552 liters)
Refueling capacity US gallons (540 liters)
Expansion capacity US gallons (12 liters)
Unusable capacity US gallons (1.2 liters)
Weight (not equipped) lbs (21 Kg)
10.7

8. Fuel Tank Nylon Straps No Baffles Single piece spun woven
polycarbonate tank
10.8

9. Fuel Filler Neck and Strainer
10.9

10. Fuel Tank Vent
Fire Protection Grid
10.10

11. Fuel Sump A small knob actuates the drain valve.
Fuel can be drained from the tank through a sump located below the belly.
10.11

12. Fuel Filter
20 micron filter
FUEL FILTER
DESCRIPTION
MAINTENANCE
10.12

13. “Pop-Out” Clogging Indicator
Fuel Filter
Fuel Filter
“Pop-Out” Clogging Indicator
FUEL FILTER
10.13

14. Clogging Indicator
After any flight where the FUEL FILTER caution light has illuminated, whether it remained illuminated or not, always check for a ‘popped’ indicator button. This reveals a true bypass situation. If the bypass indicator is found ‘popped’, refer to the Turbomeca engine manual.
10. 14

15. Fuel Filter Operation
FUEL FILTER
OPERATION
10.15

16. Fuel Filter Blockage Detection
10.16

17. Starting Fuel Pump 10.17 STARTING (BOOSTER) PUMP GENERAL DESCRIPTION
OPERATION
10.17

18. Fuel Pump Switch
10.18

19. Base of fuel quantity probe with fuel drain valve and arm
10.19

20. Capacitance Type Fuel Contents Gauge
Two concentric electroplated tubes
FUEL
“Fuel Low” thermister which illuminates the FUEL caution light.
10.20

21. Fuel Indicating The VEMD displays:
Fuel Quantity by bar graph & digital information in lbs, gal, kgs or liters. Information is automatically updated upon refueling.
Fuel flow indicator and time until flame-out.
NOTE: There is NO fuel pressure gauge for the EC130 B4.
10.21

22. Fuel Low Light System
FUEL
FUEL
Fuel less than 15.8 gallons - 15 minutes of flight time remain at Maximum Continuous Power.
10.22

23. Emergency Fuel Shut-Off Lever
10.23

24. Emergency Fuel Shut-Off Valve
10.24

25. FUEL Fuel quantity < 48 kg CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WARNING PANEL
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-18
10.25

26. 15 mn of flight time remain at MCP
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
FUEL
LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Fuel quantity < 48 kg
NOTE
15 mn of flight time remain at MCP
WARNING
AVOID LARGE ATTITUDE CHANGES
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-18
10.26

27. FUELP Low fuel pressure CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WARNING PANEL
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-21
10.27

28. FUELP IN FLIGHT: 1. Collective pitch …… REDUCE POWER
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
IN FLIGHT:
1. Collective pitch …… REDUCE POWER
2. Booster pump …….. ON
FUELP
Low fuel pressure
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-21
10.28

29. FUELP IN FLIGHT: 1. Collective pitch …… REDUCE POWER
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
IN FLIGHT:
1. Collective pitch …… REDUCE POWER
2. Booster pump …….. ON
FUELP
Low fuel pressure
LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Low power approach and landing.
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-21
10.29

30. BE PREPARED IN CASE OF AN
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
IN FLIGHT:
1. Collective pitch …… REDUCE POWER
2. Booster pump …….. ON
FUELP
Low fuel pressure
LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Low power approach and landing.
WARNING
BE PREPARED IN CASE OF AN
ENGINE FLAME-OUT.
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-21
10.30

31. FUELFILT Fuel filter clogged CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WARNING PANEL
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.31

32. WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.32

33. FUELFILT FUEL FILT WARNING
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
FUEL
FILT
Goes out
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.33

34. Continue flight at reduced power.
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
FUEL
FILT
Goes out
Continue flight at reduced power.
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.34

35. Continue flight at reduced power.
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
FUEL
FILT
Goes out
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.35

36. Continue flight at reduced power.
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
FUEL
FILT
FUELFILT
Goes out
Remains on
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.36

37. Continue flight at reduced power.
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WARNING
FUELFILT
FUEL FILTER BY-PASS OPENING DRIVES POLLUTION INTO THE FUEL LINE, AND THE GOVERNOR, INTRODUCING OSCILLATIONS, LIMITED POWER OR EVENTUALLY FLAME-OUT.
Fuel filter clogged
Collective pitch ……...… REDUCE POWER
FUEL
FILT
FUELFILT
Goes out
Remains on
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
LAND AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
(Continued
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.37

38. FUEL FILT FUELFILT FUELFILT
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
FUEL
FILT
FUELFILT
FUELFILT
Goes out
Remains on
Fuel filter clogged
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
LAND AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
MONITOR Ng
If Ng oscillations occur
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.38

39. FUEL FILT FUELFILT FUELFILT
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
FUEL
FILT
FUELFILT
FUELFILT
Goes out
Remains on
Fuel filter clogged
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
LAND AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
MONITOR Ng
If Ng oscillations occur
LAND IMMEDIATELY
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.39

40. FUEL FILT FUELFILT FUELFILT
WARNING PANEL
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
FUEL
FILT
FUELFILT
FUELFILT
Goes out
Remains on
Fuel filter clogged
Continue flight at reduced power.
LAND AS SOON
AS PRACTICABLE
LAND AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
MONITOR Ng
If Ng oscillations occur
LAND IMMEDIATELY
Autorotation procedure …………. APPLY.
Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures - Page 3-19
10.40

41. Clogging Indicator
After any flight where the FUEL FILTER caution light has illuminated, whether it remained illuminated or not, always check for a ‘popped’ indicator button. This reveals a true bypass situation. If the bypass indicator is found ‘popped’, refer to the Turbomeca engine manual.
10. 41

42. Review
Questions
10.42

43. 85. What caution / warning lights and/or gauges are associated with the fuel system?
C. F FILT, FUEL, & FUEL P lights, and the
VEMD fuel indicator.

44. 86. What is the capacity of the fuel tank in US gallons?
D gallons

45. 87. In the case of a low-pressure pump failure, what caution light, if any, will illuminate?
D. FUEL P light.

46. 88. What causes the F FILT light to illuminate?
D. When the differential pressure of inlet to
filter & outlet from filter exceeds .7 bar.

47. 89. Does illumination of the F FILT light mean the fuel filter has definitely gone into bypass?
C. Possibly. Check the red “pop-out” button
for positive confirmation.

48. 90. Where is the red “pop-out” fuel filter bypass indicator located?
B. Adjacent to the fuel filter housing.

49. 91. Approximately how many gallons of fuel remain in the fuel tank when the FUEL light illuminates and approximately how long can you continue in level flight at Maximum Continuous Power before burnout?
A gallons, 15 minutes.

50. 92. At fuel levels of approximately 75%
why does the EC130 B4 oscillate fore and aft occasionally?
D. Fuel is sloshing in the fuel tank because
there are no baffles in the fuel tank.

51. 93. Should the red emergency fuel cut-off
handle be used routinely to shut down the
engine?
B. No

52. Initial Pilot Ground School
EC 130 B4
Initial Pilot Ground School
End of Chapter 10
Fuel System