lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> On my recent X-country to San Jose, I had an interesting experience to deal with. I was on VFR climb out to an IFR assignment of 8,000 ft. from Medford, OR on the return. I was climbing at max performance to clear mountains to the NW and at about 7,500' we started hearing a tone of three beeps about every 5 seconds. We started looking for low battery signals in our new Lightspeed Headsets, checked our Cell Phones, handheld radio etc etc etc. Couldn't find the source. I gave up looking and luckily, Anne was persistent. She found a funny triangular shaped white gadget on the floor between our seats which had a little red light flashing in sync with the beeps. That was the CO alarm that we'd recently purchased in response to discussion on the LML. It indicated something over 200 PPM. Scary!! We didn't feel any bad effects and we moved the box to head level where the indication gradually dropped to about 50 PPM where the noise and alarm quit. I had also opened all vents and even opened the side window. As we levelled out at 8,000 the alarm was put back on the floor and the readings rapidly went to 0 PPM for remainder of flight. I can only assume that the high angle of attack and slow airspeed led to conditions that allowed exhaust to find its way into the cockpit. We checked fingernails, and for any symptoms of hypoxia during and for 30 minutes after the episode. We never found any indications that we were affected by the CO levels - I assume they were pooling in the floor area only. Regards, John Barrett - LIVP CARBINGE- "The World Hinges on Us" 360 385 1000 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>