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[174.0.112.194]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPSA id nj9sm17640115pbc.13.1969.12.31.16.00.00 (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA bits=128/128); Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:16:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Miller Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Apple-Mail=_EE2FAD2A-2F79-45FF-B8A1-B770B7ABE080" X-Original-Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 6.5 \(1508\)) Subject: Legacy Secondary Latch X-Original-Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:16:54 -0600 References: X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" In-Reply-To: X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1508) --Apple-Mail=_EE2FAD2A-2F79-45FF-B8A1-B770B7ABE080 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 The 2nd latch idea is a good one. I had two straps on the inside of my = Legacy bonded to the inside cabin. the straps kept the Canopy from = flipping open with a tail wind and that can happen frequently while = taxiing. In Texas, wind caught the canopy and ripped the two straps = out of the cabin wall and the plane was not even moving. A secondary = strap would probably be best near the rear of the canopy nearest the = latching point, not where I had it closer to the hinge point.=20 On a least a few occasions while I've rushed to depart I've had the = canopy start to open while pushing the throttle and realized my mistake = immediately. Now, as part of the runup I push hard up on the canopy to = confirm the lock as does another Legacy pilot I know. On my Legacy, its = not possible to apply 20 inches MP and not have the canopy come up 4 = inches with all the noise and motion that comes with it. =20 I also watch my annunciator and look for a clear board. So, the idea of = the switch Dan Ballin wrote about really should be part of the standard = circuitry. A door switch has been on every airplane I've every owned. = I only wish Cessna had put a few on the nose baggage doors of its twins. I have a mechanical pin that prevents the canopy bar from being raised. = Many things can get caught on that bar. However, the pin could prevent = egress unless everyone is familiar with the operation. Last, the canopy rubber seal switch is a toggle and often gets hit while = loading on the ground and sometimes in the air. Someday I would like to = either move it to the panel or protect it or have it flush with the = surface so things don't grab the toggle. =20 On 2013-09-20, at 1:44 PM, "Bill Bradburry" = wrote: > A secondary latch is not a bad idea, Gary. I also considered = something like a retractable seat belt attachment that would allow the = canopy to be raised at a normal speed but not at an explosive speed. = But in an airplane there are a lot of stupid pilot tricks that can have = a bad outcome. It would be difficult to engineer all of them out. A = checklist is a good tool=85if you can remember to use it. > =20 > Bill B > =20 > From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of = Gary Casey > Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 8:13 AM > To: lml@lancaironline.net > Subject: [LML] Re: Legacy down in Geraldton, Western Australia > =20 > I guess it is none of my business, since I don't own a Legacy, but I = feel the need to put in my opinion, for what it's worth: > I have to respectfully disagree in principle with Gary Week's post. = Not because he is wrong, as he is absolutely correct. But, I would = treat this as a design flaw - (not)latching the canopy is something that = should not be a life-and-death event. The solution is simple - just add = a secondary latch, like the hood of most any car has. In that way the = canopy can be held open during taxi without relying on the pilot to = latch it fully before takeoff. And if the latch does come adrift there = is another one to catch it. I just don't like the idea of relying on a = human to actively do something that could be a problem. I, too, have = heard of more than one report of a problem with this. I just don't like = the idea of saying, "just be more careful." The stakes are too high. > regards to all, > Gary Casey=20 > =20 >=20 >=20 > Many thanks Bill for sharing that first hand account of an unlatched = canopy.=3D >=20 >=20 > My comment was a reflection of what I had been told or had read = somewhere pr=3D > eviously (not from actual experience) and I am happy to be corrected, = especi=3D > ally from those who have been there and done that. >=20 > Yes we need to carefully check the canopy is latched before takeoff. = Thanks a=3D > gain. >=20 > Gary --Apple-Mail=_EE2FAD2A-2F79-45FF-B8A1-B770B7ABE080 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 The = 2nd latch idea is a good one.  I had two straps on the inside of my = Legacy bonded to the inside cabin.   the straps kept the Canopy = from flipping open with a tail wind and that can happen frequently while = taxiing.   In Texas, wind caught the canopy and ripped the two = straps out of the cabin wall and the plane was not even moving.  A = secondary strap would probably be best near the rear of the canopy = nearest the latching point, not where I had it closer to the hinge = point. 

On a least a few occasions while I've = rushed to depart I've had the canopy start to open while pushing the = throttle and realized my mistake immediately.  Now, as part of the = runup I push hard up on the canopy to confirm the lock as does another = Legacy pilot I know.  On my Legacy, its not possible to apply 20 = inches MP and not have the canopy come up 4 inches with all the noise = and motion that comes with it.  

I also = watch my annunciator and look for a clear board.  So, the idea of = the switch Dan Ballin wrote about really should be part of the standard = circuitry.  A door switch has been on every airplane I've every = owned.  I only wish Cessna had put a few on the nose baggage doors = of its twins.

I have a mechanical pin that = prevents the canopy bar from being raised.  Many things can get = caught on that bar.  However, the pin could prevent egress unless = everyone is familiar with the operation.

Last, = the canopy rubber seal switch is a toggle and often gets hit while = loading on the ground and sometimes in the air.  Someday I would = like to either move it to the panel or protect it or have it flush with = the surface so things don't grab the toggle. =  

On 2013-09-20, at 1:44 PM, = "Bill Bradburry" <bbradburry@bellsouth.net> = wrote:

=

A secondary latch is not a bad = idea, Gary.  I also considered something like a retractable seat belt attachment that would = allow the canopy to be raised at a normal speed but not at an explosive = speed.  But in an airplane there are a lot of stupid pilot tricks that can have a = bad outcome.  It would be difficult to engineer all of them out.  = A checklist is a good tool=85if you can remember to use = it.

 

Bill = B

 

From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Gary Casey
Sent: Friday, September = 20, 2013 8:13 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Legacy = down in Geraldton,= Western Australia

 

I guess it is none of my business, since I don't = own a Legacy, but I feel the need to put in my opinion, for what it's = worth:

I have to respectfully disagree in principle with = Gary Week's post.  Not because he is wrong, as he is absolutely correct. =  But, I would treat this as a design flaw - (not)latching the canopy is = something that should not be a life-and-death event.  The solution is simple - = just add a secondary latch, like the hood of most any car has.  In that way = the canopy can be held open during taxi without relying on the pilot to = latch it fully before takeoff.  And if the latch does come adrift there is = another one to catch it.  I just don't like the idea of relying on a human = to actively do something that could be a problem.  I, too, have heard = of more than one report of a problem with this.  I just don't like the idea = of saying, "just be more careful."  The stakes are too = high.

regards to all,

Gary Casey 



Many thanks Bill for sharing that first hand account of an unlatched = canopy.=3D


My comment was a reflection of what I had been told or had read = somewhere pr=3D
eviously (not from actual experience) and I am happy to be corrected, = especi=3D
ally from those who have been there and done that.

Yes we need to carefully check the canopy is latched before takeoff. = Thanks a=3D
gain.

Gary