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The initial flight testing on my system is
complete and yes - it works just fine thank you. We are removing the
test heaters, painting the leading edge, and installing new heaters during
the next 2 weeks. After that it's time to fly! Final paint is due 6
March 2007, with arrival for Sun n' Fun 17-23 April.
Lancair builders might have
seen on-line that the FAA has required all Columbias to deactivate
their "Evade" de-ice systems. This is because the Columbia wing has a
copper mesh embedded for lightning protection and it was not trimmed back
to preclude shorting to the de-ice stud. The system implemented by BDD for
our Lancairs 1.) does not have to deal with the copper mesh - because there
isn't any, and 2.) encorporates a large insulating plug that eliminates any
chance of conduction, even to the carbon composite.
Anyone interested in having the
de-ice system installed, step up as dates are now being booked. Just
another way to increase the utility of these already fine aircraft!
Contact: Dave McRae phone 541.410.8265 or david.mcrae@rddent.com .
Robert M. Simon
ES-P N301ES
News release
FYI:
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FAA, CASA Issue Airworthiness Directives For Columbia
400 Icing Systems
Thermawing System May Short-Circuit
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australia's
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have issued airworthiness directives
calling for the immediate deactivation of anti-icing systems installed on some
Lancair Columbia (shown below) and Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing 400-series
aircraft.
The AD's state the Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems
Thermawing Deice System installed on those aircraft could short-circuit where
the deice heater connects to the copper lightning protection mesh embedded in
the aircraft's composite structure.
CASA states incidents have occurred in the field where
such electrical shorts have caused burning of the wings and horizontal
stabilizer. The agency says those burns could damage the structural integrity of
those surfaces.
The short circuit is caused by insufficient removal of
copper mesh when the deice heater connectors were installed.
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