Yes! If you feel air coming from the throttle slot, keep it slow and
return for an immediate landing.
A few months ago we went to Pine Mtn Lake for lunch and before the
return flight spent nearly a half hour with the door open on a hot day,
chatting with someone on the field. The door began warping in the heat,
so that when I closed the pilot's door, the rear bolt did not engage.
Immediately after take-off, we both noticed a breeze coming from the
gear retraction slot (it usually sucks air out at this location). All
was well at normal climb speed of about 80 kts, but when I leveled off
for a cruise climb of 100 kts the door popped open, BIG SURPRISE. The
door did not immediately depart the plane, and I quickly noticed that
left rudder would bring it back into arms reach. I reduced throttle and
yelled for my build partner in the right seat to take the plane, and
wrestled the door back and latched it. Although we did not lose the
door, we did lose the air strut. In retrospect, I think I did spend too
many brain cells on the door and way too few on flying the plane. It's
a good thing I had a pilot/passenger in the right seat.
I believe the event that finally caused the door to open was not the
increased airspeed, but the change in yaw that happened when I
transitioned from climb to cruise(climb).
Regards,
Terry Seaver
N135TD
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Dean Seitz
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 2:58 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: canopy open
<<<<Is there any danger of the door flying off and damaging the tail -
or is the tail robust enough? >>>>>
I can tell you from experience that the door will rip the hinges in half
if it opens at cruise speed!!!! Yes I made the mistake of not checking
the rear bolt in about the sixth hour on the plane. Was at 1600ft
feeling the air coming through the throttle slot trying to figure why.
Door flew open straight up. Before I could even think about grabbing it,
it was gone. No damage to airframe at all, just no door and mouth open.
Aircraft flies fine just don't try to use charts, a little windy. Built
new door and always check doors twice before takeoff.
Dean Seitz
N284A
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