I quite agree that prevention is better than cure, and anything that people
do to pay attention to checklists/warning lights/checking security to ensure
that the canopy doors are properly locked before takeoff is to be welcomed.
I am not convinced of the desirability of having any additional one locking
mechanism to prevent opening in flight that might either prevent the
pilot/passenger or outside rescuers from opening the canopy in the event of
a crash landing. If, for example your engine failed on takeoff and you had
to make an immediate forced landing without being able to choose where and
without time to unlock the doors, you would not wish to jeopardise your
chances of survival further by being locked in.
Graham is right: you must FLY THE AEROPLANE. If, for whatever reason,
prevention has failed and a canopy door does unlatch in flight, then the
handling pilot should think very carefully before deciding to risk holding
onto the door if he is flying solo. Chuck Rhoads was fortunate to get away
with it ("the landing became interesting because I had never used my right
hand on the controls and thus there was no easy to control throttle, trim,
etc. The landing actually turned out to be pretty good..."). The Europa
will fly perfectly well after losing a door, and it may be far better to
have this happen and accept that there will be a relatively minor repair
than to risk the far more serious consequences of losing proper control, of
which we have been given vivid examples in previous messages.
Mike Gregory
Europa Club Safety Officer
_____
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Raimo Toivio
Sent: 29 November 2006 19:15
Subject: Fw: Europa-List: canopy open
We had here in Finland about one year ago a similar accident and it was
fatal. After that and many other similar stories I decided to do something
and added four Honeywell micro switches - one for each shooting bolt. All of
them must be engaged to get green lights, they are serial connected.
Also I decided to use pip-pins to secure doors against unintentionally
opening during flight. There is also a label "remove pip pin before landing"
- that is for possible emergency exit.
Check an attachment.
Raimo
----- Original Message -----
From: jimpuglise@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: canopy open
We had an unlatched canopy incident here at Punta Gorda last weekend. I
Long Eze went in about a half mile from the departure end of the runway.
The pilot is 72 and has been flying the airplane for 25 years. He tried to
hold the canopy down and fly the airplane at the same time and it did not
work very well. The airplane was pretty much destroyed but he got out with
some bruises and a few broken bones. I think he is out of the hospital by
now. The point for all of us is:
CHECKLIST -- CHECKLIST -- CHECKLIST
Jim Puglise A-283, Punta Gorda, FL
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Graham Singleton <grahamsingleton@btinternet.com>
>
>
> Chuck
> glad you had enough wits to FLY THE PLANE. :-)
> We can all learn from other peoples mishaps, thanks for telling us.
>snip<
> Gra ham
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