lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Fibercraft installed latches and micro switches on my IVP and I think they did a very good job. The two latches operate very smoothly and the cable operated push button is in the cabin door frame at a location you can't access with this door closed. The smart part of the system is that one switch logs the baggage door closed against the frame. The other switch is on the forward latch mechanism. If the latch does not slide closed over the lip of the door and the door is not tight against the fuselage frame, the baggage door open annunciator will light up. It is possible to have the door closed enough to activate the first micro switch but have the latch not positively engaged. That is the beauty of the second micro switch. John Sent from my iPad On Oct 10, 2013, at 1:04 PM, "Brad Simmons" <dl60280@bellsouth.net> wrote: > The 2 keys to making the push button work are getting the door catchs positioned such that the tapered part of the locking pin moves past the catch edge (many don't have these close enough), and creating smooth looping cable runs to make the button pushing effort managable. It's certainly easier to install if the rearpressure bulkhead is not yet installed so you can see what you are doing from both sides! > > Brad Simmons > Airframes Inc. > 39 Airport Rd. > Milan, TN 38358 > 731-686-3610 > 731-686-3613 fax > www.airframesinc.com > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Weinsweig" <weinsweigd@gmail.com> > To: <lml@lancaironline.net> > Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2013 7:38 AM > Subject: [LML] Baggage door potential disaster > > > Early on in the flying of my Propjet, I headed home from Airventure after filling the baggage compartment with toys for the kids and a folding chair which was the last item I put in before closing the baggage door. We equipped the baggage door with the remote push button mod. The button was installed as Brad suggested-hidden by the cabin door when closed and locked. At altitude half way through the flight home, ATC asked me to turn left. It was a nice VFR day and I was hand flying so I made a steep left turn. Suddenly, while in the bank, I heard a loud bang which caught my attention and significantly elevated my heart rate. After verifying cabin pressurization was good, all instruments were showing normal, and the plane flew properly, my first thought was that a gear door had blown open for some reason. The plane was flying fine though there was a slight sound of "wind" that persisted the rest of the flight. > > After landing, I looked all around and under the plane. Everything looked fine until I noticed that I did not need to open the baggage door to get the toys out as there was no baggage door!! Amazingly, the only thing that blew out of the baggage compartment was the chair. All of the toys remained! > > I believe that when I made the steep bank the chair pushed against the door or perhaps the latch system causing the baggage door to open. I was very fortunate that there was no damage to the plane. We made a new baggage door installing the standard barrel locks which I believe are much more secure than the aftermarket push button system. > > I agree with Peter. Although sleek and cool, the remote push button baggage door system is NOT reliable and is NOT safe IMHO. Judging from the documented multiple failures of this system, I believe it should be avoided. > > David Weinsweig > Propjet N750DW 315 hrs > > Sent from my iPad > -- > For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html > > -- > For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html