X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 12:45:17 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from qmta13.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.27.243] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.4.5) with ESMTP id 5558080 for lml@lancaironline.net; Thu, 24 May 2012 12:39:57 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=76.96.27.243; envelope-from=j.hafen@comcast.net Received: from omta11.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.30.36]) by qmta13.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id DsTj1j0010mlR8UADsfQwA; Thu, 24 May 2012 16:39:24 +0000 Received: from Legent ([67.168.154.188]) by omta11.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id DsfK1j023449Jx78XsfPVq; Thu, 24 May 2012 16:39:23 +0000 From: "John Hafen" X-Original-To: "'Lancair Mailing List'" References: In-Reply-To: Subject: RE: [LML] 360 still surging X-Original-Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 09:39:34 -0700 X-Original-Message-ID: <003001cd39cb$cd825ef0$68871cd0$@comcast.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0031_01CD3991.212D23E0" X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 14.0 Thread-Index: AQIUaKzoUTOsGfMrva2++rKK5hLUepZKxA9w Content-Language: en-us This is a multipart message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0031_01CD3991.212D23E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I agree with Berni's comments below about doing testing on the ground rather than in the air. The NTSB reported recently that with experimental aircraft, nearly one in four accidents were blamed on a power-plant failures. Here is the text from USA Today (links are embedded): Pilots of small, homemade aircraft have twice as many accidents and three times the fatalities as the rest of the general-aviation community, the National Transportation Safety Board found Tuesday. Based on those findings, the five-member board unanimously approved recommendations for the Federal Aviation Administration and the Experimental Aircraft Association to develop better flight-test plans, encourage more training for pilots and conduct fuel tests on the aircraft. Engine failures are a leading cause of the accidents. "The recommendations that we have issued today are all intended to improve safety while maintaining the excitement and the adventure of this vibrant segment of aviation," says Deborah Hersman, the board chairman. The board studied the experimental aircraft industry because of the larger number of accidents during the last decade and because of the growing popularity in aircraft that hobbyists build themselves. Over the last decade, there were an average of 213 accidents each year, including 55 fatalities, the board found. Among 224,000 general-aviation aircraft across the USA, 33,000 are considered experimental, meaning they were built from a kit or from a unique design. The aircraft account for 20% of fatal crashes of general aviation, despite representing a small portion of the fleet. From 2001 to 2010, the board found that accidents for every 100,000 hours flown averaged 21.2 for experimental aircraft and 9.5 for the rest of general aviation. Even more ominous, the average number of fatal crashes for every 100,000 hours flown averaged 5.3 for experimental aircraft and 1.6 for the rest of general aviation. During that decade, the board found nearly one in four accidents were blamed on a power-plant failure and another one in four on loss of control in flight. Loss of control caused nearly half the fatal crashes. Loren Groff, who researched the accidents, says experimental aircraft have lower accident rates in Canada and Britain. He says those countries have more inspections of the aircraft, including a fuel-flow check in Canada, that could prevent engine failures. "It seems like we would want to be doing things they are doing in other countries," says Robert Sumwalt, a board member. A significant share of the accidents occurred during the first flight of the aircraft, whether the pilot built the plane himself or bought it used. The board found 10 of 102 accidents in newly built aircraft were on the first flight, as were 14 of 125 on the first flight of used aircraft flown by the new owner. With the help of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the NTSB surveyed nearly 5,000 pilots to learn more about the industry. The survey found that experimental pilots tend to be older and experienced, mostly describing themselves as retired and averaging more than 60 years old with 30 years of flying experience with a total of 1,300 hours. Regards, John Hafen IVP N413AJ 400 hours From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Steve Colwell Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:44 AM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] 360 still surging Berni, I would encourage you to do the testing on the ground not in the air. Fuel problems are the #1 cause of engine failure in homebuilts. Think Experimental as a derivative of "experiment", which implies it may fly or it may not. None of our planes are identical, but fuel system modifications combined with known problems should be reviewed by an expert (like Don at Airflow Performance). Even certified planes can have designed in fuel stoppage issues. I know, I owned one. Steve As soon as I receive it I will install, cowl up and make a flight followed by a shutdown and see if either or both of my changes have improved performance. Thanks! Berni ------=_NextPart_000_0031_01CD3991.212D23E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I agree with Berni’s = comments below about doing testing on the ground rather than in the = air.

 

The = NTSB reported recently that with experimental aircraft, nearly one in four accidents = were blamed on a power-plant failures.

 

Here = is the text from USA Today (links are embedded): =

 

Pilots of small, homemade = aircraft have twice as many accidents and three times the fatalities as = the rest of the general-aviation community, the National Transportation Safety = Board found Tuesday.

 

Based on those findings, the = five-member board unanimously approved recommendations for the Federal Aviation Administration = and the Experimental Aircraft = Association to develop better flight-test plans, encourage = more training for pilots and conduct fuel tests on the aircraft. Engine = failures are a leading cause of the accidents.

 

"The recommendations = that we have issued today are all intended to improve safety while = maintaining the excitement and the adventure of this vibrant segment of = aviation," says Deborah Hersman, the board = chairman.

 

The = board studied the experimental aircraft industry because of the larger = number of accidents during the last decade and because of the growing = popularity in aircraft that hobbyists build themselves. Over the last = decade, there were an average of 213 accidents each year, including 55 = fatalities, the board found.

 

Among 224,000 = general-aviation aircraft across the USA, 33,000 are considered = experimental, meaning they were built from a kit or from a unique = design. The aircraft account for 20% of fatal crashes of general = aviation, despite representing a small portion of the = fleet.

 

From = 2001 to 2010, the board found that accidents for every 100,000 hours = flown averaged 21.2 for experimental aircraft and 9.5 for the rest of = general aviation. Even more ominous, the average number of fatal crashes = for every 100,000 hours flown averaged 5.3 for experimental aircraft and = 1.6 for the rest of general aviation.

 

During that decade, the board = found nearly one in four accidents were blamed on a power-plant failure = and another one in four on loss of control in flight. Loss of control = caused nearly half the fatal crashes.

Loren = Groff, who researched the accidents, says experimental aircraft have = lower accident rates in Canada and Britain. He says those countries have = more inspections of the aircraft, including a fuel-flow check in Canada, = that could prevent engine failures.

 

"It seems like we would = want to be doing things they are doing in other countries," says = Robert Sumwalt, a board member.

 

A = significant share of the accidents occurred during the first flight of = the aircraft, whether the pilot built the plane himself or bought it = used. The board found 10 of 102 accidents in newly built aircraft were = on the first flight, as were 14 of 125 on the first flight of used = aircraft flown by the new owner.

 

With = the help of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the NTSB surveyed = nearly 5,000 pilots to learn more about the industry. The survey found = that experimental pilots tend to be older and experienced, mostly = describing themselves as retired and averaging more than 60 years old = with 30 years of flying experience with a total of 1,300 = hours.

 

Regards,

=

 

John = Hafen

IVP N413AJ 400 = hours

 

 

From:= = Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of = Steve Colwell
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:44 = AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] 360 = still surging

 

Berni,

 

I would encourage you to do the testing on the ground not in the = air.  Fuel problems are the #1 cause of engine failure in = homebuilts.  Think Experimental as a derivative of = “experiment”, which implies it may fly or it may not. =

 

None of our planes are identical, but fuel system modifications = combined with known problems should be reviewed by an expert (like Don = at Airflow Performance).  Even certified planes can have designed = in fuel stoppage issues.  I know, I owned one. =

 

Steve

 

As soon as I = receive it I will install, cowl up and make a flight followed by a = shutdown and see if either or both of my changes have improved = performance.

 

Thanks!

 

Berni

 <= /o:p>

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