Hi Vaughn,
I flew my bird to that show and was standing there watching that
Lancair take off. When I turned to watch the next one leave he went
down. Myself and some friends were sick when we saw the smoke from the
crash. Even more so when they told us it was an open canopy.
Before I hit the throttle both my hands push out on the rear, then the
front of both doors making sure those shoot bolts are in. It is too
bad but we all get caught up in trying to make a perfect landing or
takeoff when on lookers are around. (Air shows etc.)
Thats when check list are needed even more.
Best To All!!
Jeff R. N128LJ Gold Rush... still down for annual but looking forward
to the soon to be nice weather!
On Feb 22, 2010, at 10:06 AM, John Wigney wrote:
> >
>
> Hi Vaughn,
>
> Am happy to hear that you are back on track with the project. How is
> progress?
>
> You were fortunate with the Tomahawk door. Re Europa doors, my
> experience is that mine opened up once a long time ago (rear bolt
> not engaged) just as I was lifting off at take off. I was able to
> gently set it back down without losing the door. Lucky me. I am now
> a bit anal about checking the bolts. I believe that if you fly with
> one bolt out, there may be no way you can stop the door opening or
> even think about relocking it. Just fly the plane.
>
> At the 2008 Sun N Fun, there was a prize winning Lancair which
> departed from the show. The photo at take off (below) shows his
> front hinge canopy was open about 2" at the back edge. He crashed
> fatally about 5 miles from the airport. Even at big shows you can
> always declare an emergency. This guy could have put it back down.
> Moral = "Fly the Plane!"
>
> Cheers, John
>
> ORIGINAL MESSAGE/
> From: "Europa List" <n914va@bvunet.net>
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Liberty XL Service Bulletin for Canopy
> Shoot Bolts
> I learned to fly in a Piper Tomahawk which used a similar system to
> secure the doors. It was pounded into my head to check both doors
> very carefully before taking of. On my long solo cross country I
> left Harrisburg International and as I turned to leave the pattern,
> I noticed more noise than usual. Sure enough the rear shoot bolt on
> my side was not engaged. I slowed to 10 knots above stall and trimed
> for level flight as instructed and was able to correctly shut the
> door. I was prepared to request permission and land back at
> Harrisburg had I not been successful because of the dire warnings
> from my instructor about not bringing the complete airplane home.
> Learning a lesson without dire consequences is most preferable.
> Learning from others mistakes is even better for you.
> Vaughn Teegarden
> A191 back in the building stage
> /
>
>
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