X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:32:07 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from yx-out-2324.google.com ([74.125.44.28] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.12) with ESMTP id 3485636 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:02:01 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=74.125.44.28; envelope-from=msteitle@gmail.com Received: by yx-out-2324.google.com with SMTP id 31so254102yxl.7 for ; Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:01:26 -0800 (PST) DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; b=wJ1nT5SHf2t+43IwhEllY2y2wjt9tIg7AcUugyAMF0Hw/5sJlMOYdFb4xaSSV3js7b 10yw55Qmb9tl6Gsp3MCoHbEH7SfjQx8N9nzkl7CzlcR78ag7fTf1GxscHKlKrFWh6CGy Pkrl8xA3g/FB8pEu8AmqoapsZCzkE9/aVVENs= MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.100.131.13 with SMTP id e13mr640752and.57.1234270884538; Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:01:24 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: X-Original-Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:01:24 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: <5cf132c0902100501m7198a40eh2f4ba9aac174b8f7@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Legacy Canopy Down & Latched Indication From: Mark Steitle X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=0016e645ba84a12a200462901562 --0016e645ba84a12a200462901562 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Bill, I failed to mention... it's a BIG RED light. If I miss that, I shouldn't b= e flying. Mark S. On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 11:50 PM, Bill Bradburry w= rote: > If you are going to do something like this, I suggest that you > incorporate the microswitch on the canopy with the throttle position so t= hat > a horn or buzzer goes off if the throttle is advanced beyond taxi positio= n > with the canopy not down and latched. A light could be missed on take of= f > until too late, but a horn would not. > > > > Oh, if you design something like this, let me know how you did it! :>) > > > > Bill B > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] *On Behalf Of > *Valin & Allyson Thorn > *Sent:* Sunday, February 08, 2009 2:26 PM > *To:* lml@lancaironline.net > *Subject:* [LML] Legacy Canopy Down & Latched Indication > > > > Hey Legacy pilots and builders, > > > > There have now been two Legacy crashes, including the loss of a fellow > pilot, apparently from canopy openings on takeoff. I'm sure we'd all > recognized even before these losses that the standard Legacy canopy latch= ing > system can easily mislead a pilot that it is closed but not be latched > down. And, with these great visibility bubble canopies, but hot green ho= use > effects, the canopies are usually propped open on the ground and not clos= ed > and latched until just before takeoff. This makes it fairly likely that > every Legacy pilot at some time, with fatigue or distractions, may not la= tch > the canopy down before takeoff=85 > > > > Given this probability of occurrence, we've been planning to use simple > micro or proximity switches on both the canopy and the latch mechanism to > control an indicator/light on our instrument panel as a secondary and har= d > to miss canopy configuration indicator. It would be red whenever the can= opy > is not down OR not latched. I haven't yet decided if it would be good to > have it green when the canopy is down and latched. > > > > Anyway, I just wanted to share this with other pilots and builders that a= re > thinking about how to mitigate this in flight canopy opening risk after t= he > second accident from this (apparent) root cause. This kind of set up sho= uld > be a very easy retrofit for flying Legacy airplanes, too. > > > > > > Valin Thorn > > Legacy > > Houston, TX USA > > http://www.starflight.aero/legacy/ > > > > > > P.S. Also, if you do the mod we worked up a few years ago that props the > canopy open when you unlatch the canopy (so you can get your fingers unde= r > it to open it) you get another more clear indication that the canopy is n= ot > latched=85 Don Barnes has this info on his website: > > > > http://www.lancairlegacy.com/tips_canopy_fixes.html > > > > > > > > > --0016e645ba84a12a200462901562 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Bill,
 
I failed to mention... it's a BI= G RED light.  If I miss that, I shouldn't be flying.
 
Mark S.

On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 11:50 PM, Bill Bradburry = <bbradburr= y@bellsouth.net> wrote:

If you are going to do something li= ke this, I suggest that you incorporate the microswitch on the canopy with = the throttle position so that a horn or buzzer goes off if the throttle is = advanced beyond taxi position with the canopy not down and latched.  A= light could be missed on take off until too late, but a horn would not.

 

Oh, if you design something like th= is, let me know how you did it!  :>)

 

Bill B

 

From: Lanc= air Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On= Behalf Of Valin & Allyson Thorn
Sent: Sunday, February 08, = 2009 2:26 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Legacy Canop= y Down & Latched Indication

Hey Legac= y pilots and builders,

 

There hav= e now been two Legacy crashes, including the loss of a fellow pilot, appare= ntly from canopy openings on takeoff.  I'm sure we'd all recognized ev= en before these losses that the standard Legacy canopy latching system can = easily mislead a pilot that it is closed but not be latched down.  And= , with these great visibility bubble canopies, but hot green house effects,= the canopies are usually propped open on the ground and not closed and lat= ched until just before takeoff.  This makes it fairly likely that ever= y Legacy pilot at some time, with fatigue or distractions, may not latch th= e canopy down before takeoff=85

 

Given thi= s probability of occurrence, we've been planning to use simple micro or pro= ximity switches on both the canopy and the latch mechanism to control an in= dicator/light on our instrument panel as a secondary and hard to miss canop= y configuration indicator.  It would be red whenever the canopy is not= down OR not latched.  I haven't yet decided if it would be good to ha= ve it green when the canopy is down and latched. 

 

Anyway, I= just wanted to share this with other pilots and builders that are thinking= about how to mitigate this in flight canopy opening risk after the second = accident from this (apparent) root cause.  This kind of set up should = be a very easy retrofit for flying Legacy airplanes, too.

 

 

Valin Tho= rn

Legacy

Houston= , TX USA

http://www.starfl= ight.aero/legacy/

 

 

P.S. = ; Also, if you do the mod we worked up a few years ago that props the canop= y open when you unlatch the canopy (so you can get your fingers under it to= open it) you get another more clear indication that the canopy is not latc= hed=85  Don Barnes has this info on his website:

 

= http://www.lancairlegacy.com/tips_canopy_fixes.html

 

 

 

 


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