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Last winter, I noticed that my canopy gas struts seemed weak and would
occasionally allow the canopy to fall down.  I decided to purchase new ones
from Lancair and replaced the old struts.  This year, even with the new
struts, canopy still falls down occasionally, although not as bad as before.  
The cold weather must be affecting these struts, weakening them considerably.
  Struts similar to these are also used to extend the nose gear if the
electro-hydraulic gear extension system fails.  

I decided to test the emergency gear extension on two recent flights.  
Normally, the nose gear light comes on almost immediately, however, during
the first test, the nose gear lights did not come on at all.  Only after
loading the plane with some positive G's did it finally come on.  On a warmer
day, did the test again but this time nose gear light came on immediately.  
Note that during my last annual (April 2000),  I removed and tested the nose
gear strut and it exerted more than 90lbs on the scale.  Sorry, forgot to
note down actually temps during the tests, although frist test was BELOW
freezing and second test, ABOVE.

Conclusion:  Pressure exerted by these gas struts are marginal during very
cold temps.  If the nose gear strut fails to fully extend the nose gear
during an emergency gear extension,  positive 'G' manuevers will be required
to lock the nose gear in place.

Rick Argente
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LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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