With my recent in-flight mishap, we are looking into the fuel pump as a possible source of the issue. I’m trying to understand how the altitude compensating fuel pump works. Is there anyone who could offer a basic understanding of it’s operation? Is it a mechanical valve that adjusts based on air pressure? Could it get stuck? Is there a way to determine if it’s operating correctly short of a bench test?
Thanks.
Hi Eric,
I also have the altitude compensating fuel pump. I found this explanation and I keep a copy of it saved:
The altitude compensating mechanism basically adjusts full rich based off of altitude. As you increase altitude and there’s less air, the same full rich air/fuel ratio will require less fuel. Also as a matter of clarification, calling it Cirrus’s fuel injection system is a bit inaccurate - it’s just a standard Continental fuel injection system and the same altitude compensating fuel pump (or same style) is used on plenty of other naturally aspirated aircraft, and has been for decades. Basically it’s just a fuel pump for a turbo (which references boost to adjust max fuel flow), but since there is no turbo it just makes fuel flow go down with altitude and the associated reduction in atmospheric pressure. Those fuel systems have the following inputs:
Also, there is this pictorial and explanation from Cirrus (photo included below)
Thanks for the info!
Good luck figuring it out, Eric. We had a similar “gremlin” awhile back and Steve Miller at Fixed Wing Aviation in Lakeland Florida squared it away for us. I know you’re probably not too keen on flying it down to Central Florida in it’s current operating condition, but might be worth a phone call to Steve, to pick his brain. Phone is (863) 606-5757
I can answer this question but it’s going to be on the member side under airframe and power plant.
What is this “recent in-flight mishap” you speak of?
