X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:49:36 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail-qy0-f17.google.com ([209.85.221.17] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.12) with ESMTP id 3483097 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:50:49 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.85.221.17; envelope-from=msteitle@gmail.com Received: by qyk10 with SMTP id 10so3079365qyk.19 for ; Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:50:15 -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=f3Ba8SJHD/PtLjmqjGoXT9pc5BsJtGG4ipLd4/S4yj3yWUsQBzdSW1pyW1IMzFc5nf STXxOiN+EA+ukh5Ykv1Nnjm0NCCSl/AV5CzGeS+ok1Kll0khYhe64m2919ShaE8ZZE14 VCWJU6nXYeY3gULWSwri2jSRUJKFAp06QTXWc= MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.214.46.9 with SMTP id t9mr5685531qat.223.1234129813778; Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:50:13 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: X-Original-Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 15:50:13 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: <5cf132c0902081350g590d38f0i7408409070bf331f@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: [LML] Legacy Canopy Down & Latched Indication From: Mark Steitle X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=0015175cd02a282fef04626f3d66 --0015175cd02a282fef04626f3d66 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Valin, I made this mod to my ES after seeing pictures of a Columbia that had a doo= r come open in flight. I used a simple micro switch in the doorframe where the dogs latch onto the pins. If the dogs aren't in their proper position, the big red light is on. So far, so good. Mark S. On Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM, Valin & Allyson Thorn wrote: > 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 > > > > > > > > > --0015175cd02a282fef04626f3d66 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Valin,

I made this mod to my ES after seeing pictures of a Columbia= that had a door come open in flight.  I used a simple micro switch in= the doorframe where the dogs latch onto the pins.  If the dogs aren&#= 39;t in their proper position, the big red light is on.  So far, so go= od. 

Mark S.

On Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 1:25 = PM, Valin & Allyson Thorn <thorn@starflight.aero> wrote:

Hey Le= gacy 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 latching system can eas= ily 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 latched until just before takeoff.  This makes it fairly likely that every Leg= acy pilot at some time, with fatigue or distractions, may not latch the canopy = down before takeoff=85

 =

Given = this probability of occurrence, we've been planning to use simple micro or proximity switche= s on both the canopy and the latch mechanism to control an indicator/light on= our instrument panel as a secondary and hard to miss canopy configuration indic= ator.  It would be red whenever the canopy is not down OR not latched.  I hav= en't yet decided if it would be good to have it green when the canopy is down an= d 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 fr= om this (apparent) root cause.  This kind of set up should be a very easy retrofit for flying Legacy airplanes, too.

 =

 =

Valin = Thorn

Legacy=

Housto= n, TX USA

http://www.starf= light.aero/legacy/

 =

 =

P.S.&n= bsp; Also, if you do the mod we worked up a few years ago that props the canopy open w= hen you unlatch the canopy (so you can get your fingers under it to open it) yo= u get another more clear indication that the canopy is not latched=85  Don Barnes has this info on his website:

 =

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

 =

 =

 =

 =


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