X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com X-SpamCatcher-Score: 2 [X] Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 11:29:11 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mtai03.charter.net ([209.225.8.183] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1.8) with ESMTP id 2033735 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 09 May 2007 07:30:53 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.225.8.183; envelope-from=toms1@chartermi.net Received: from aa06.charter.net ([10.20.200.158]) by mtai03.charter.net (InterMail vM.7.08.02.00 201-2186-121-20061213) with ESMTP id <20070509112956.VFAA1549.mtai03.charter.net@aa06.charter.net> for ; Wed, 9 May 2007 07:29:56 -0400 Received: from D9T70F41 ([24.231.134.35]) by aa06.charter.net with SMTP id <20070509112956.UIF22955.aa06.charter.net@D9T70F41> for ; Wed, 9 May 2007 07:29:56 -0400 X-Original-Message-ID: <005501c7922d$5edf13d0$2386e718@D9T70F41> From: "Tom Sullivan" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mail List" Subject: Re; IVPT fuel system X-Original-Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 06:29:56 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0052_01C79203.75D21D50" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3028 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 X-Chzlrs: 0 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0052_01C79203.75D21D50 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Did I miss something about the accident? I thought it happened within = a few minutes of departure? If this is the case, and the belly tank was = used for fuel, it could never have been pumped off by the time of the = accident anyway. All current systems I am aware of that pump belly tank = fuel to the wings, do so pumping at the same rate as the normal fuel = flow to the engine. Thus under normal operations, the belly tank will = not be emptied for well over an hour into the flight. Like many turbine builders, I have studied and tolled over the best = system for safety, reliability, and simplicity. My system is not much = different than standard, but I have incorporated some of the safety = features Joe T. is using. I am not convinced the belly tank is = significantly safer empty than it is full, at least not enough to = warrant more complexity to the fuel system and fuel management. I have = tried to consider what are the most likely factors that contribute to an = accident, and risk goes up with complexity. I believe this has been the = case in some previous Lancair accidents (complexity). I have worked = with some Cessna Caravan techs and verified our system next to this = certified system. The Caravan uses a belly tank as the main fuel = supply, but admittedly, fixed gear reduces belly impact considerably. =20 I am concerned that anyone blame "systems" or "designs" for problems = they have not created. If you take issue with a design, state your = concern. We all can benefit from thoughtful exchange, especially with = the tremendous resources we have within our Lancair community. =20 Tom Sullivan IVPT ------=_NextPart_000_0052_01C79203.75D21D50 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Did I miss something about = the=20 accident? I thought it happened within a few minutes of departure? = If this=20 is the case, and the belly tank was used for fuel, it could never have = been=20 pumped off by the time of the accident anyway. All current systems = I am=20 aware of that pump belly tank fuel to the wings, do so pumping at = the same=20 rate as the normal fuel flow to the engine. Thus under normal = operations,=20 the belly tank will not be emptied for well over an hour into the=20 flight.

Like many turbine = builders, I have=20 studied and tolled over the best system for safety, reliability, and=20 simplicity. My system is not much different than standard, = but I have=20 incorporated some of the safety features Joe T. is using. I am not = convinced the belly tank is significantly = safer empty=20 than it is full, at least not enough to warrant more complexity to = the fuel=20 system and fuel management. I have tried to consider what are = the=20 most likely factors that contribute to an accident, and risk goes up = with=20 complexity. I believe this has been the case in some previous = Lancair=20 accidents (complexity). I have worked with some Cessna = Caravan techs=20 and verified our system next to this certified system. The Caravan = uses a=20 belly tank as the main fuel supply, but admittedly, fixed gear = reduces=20 belly impact considerably.

I am concerned that anyone = blame=20 "systems" or "designs" for problems they have not created. = If you=20 take issue with a design, state your concern. We all can = benefit from=20 thoughtful exchange, especially with the tremendous resources we have = within our=20 Lancair community.

Tom Sullivan

IVPT

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