=20 wrote: > > > Years ago Van=E2=80=99s tested several factory built RV=E2=80=99s for = smoke =20 > penetration of the firewall. I remember they were amazed how much s=20= > moke they got thru what they thought were pretty tight electrical, c=20= > able and misc. fittings in a ground simulation. They tightened up t=20= > he obvious holes and used High Temp Silicone and still had an unacce=20= > ptable volume of smoke coming in. > > > > Fire or even an oil leak might have smoke that could prevent =20 > breathing long enough or obscure vision or be enough of a =20 > distraction (pick one or more) to set up a fatal scenario. This =20 > could have been a factor in the Watsonville crash. > > > > Steve Colwell Legacy > > > > --Apple-Mail-5--623050952 Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

One last thought about Brad's = firewall experience. If the areas as he discribes showed signs of = exposure severe heat and quite possibly to open flame that means the = composite firewall was all the kept smoke and fire from entering the = cabin. How long does it take to burn through e-glass or carbon? = When similar produces are used in the architecture and = construction industry at fire rated asseblies building codes and UL are = very detailed as to how all penetrations are done. Sleves with specific = UL numbers must be submitted and approved They usually require = steel straping as well as fire caulking at overlaps to avoid fire or = smoke getting behind. And when a comustible material is within 3" = of a rated assembly the rated assebly must also be rated "zero inches to = combustible". Don't know if this is applicable to aviation but - as = Brads experirence suggests- maybe it should be. =

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On Dec 18, 2009, = at 10:18 AM, "Steve Colwell" <mcmess1919@yahoo.com> = wrote:

Years ago Van=E2=80=99s tested several factory built = RV=E2=80=99s for smoke penetration of the firewall. I remember they were amazed how much = smoke they got thru what they thought were pretty tight electrical, cable and misc. = fittings in a ground simulation. They tightened up the obvious holes and = used High Temp Silicone and still had an unacceptable volume of smoke coming in. =

Fire or even an oil leak might have smoke that could = prevent breathing long enough or obscure vision or be enough of a distraction = (pick one or more) to set up a fatal scenario. This could have been a factor = in the Watsonville crash.

Steve Colwell Legacy

= --Apple-Mail-5--623050952--