Tim, Bruno and all who care about flight safety
This is an old threat and I am bit agonizing. But once more:
Sometimes we have to use our brains over The Rules. That is why we fly
experimentals. Safety over The Rules. The rules follow sooner or later
experimental wisdom.
***
Which case is more probable:
Every single Europa flight and any time of the flight you or your
passenger may open the door handle by accident, because of careless
manners, madness, illness, naivety, childishness or because she/he is a
child
or
if once in a lifetime happens an emergency on the ground or emergency
landing where you are still and well alive, still right side up but
cannot open the door and people (there are people!) outside are not able
to broke that thinniest plexiglass and the plane is burning and you will
die because of that door pip-pin a=C2=B4la me.
Make your choise.
Europa Aircraft have noticed that risk and in the BM they call the
builder to make a guard to prevent unintended door opening during the
flight. I went only a bit further and add also pip-pins. It was so easy
to imagine, that my sleeve pick-up the lever and soon the door is open,
separateing, hitting to the rudder/fin and almost killing them, air flow
is awful, co-pilot is screaming because she understand this is the
final, all the papers are flown away and an assymmetric drag is almost
impossible to handle, thinking same time shoud I open also the other
door to balance the plane and trying because of a strong drag to make an
emergency landing with full power. No =93 I did not want to
experience this and added pip-pins to both doors. Amen.
BTW in my POH /emergency situ list there is a line =9Cbefore
emergency landing take the door pip-pins out=9D. Happy now?
I used to take them away before every landing but refuced later because
understood it is a risk itself (to pull out the pip-pins during the
flight).
That would not be allowed on a certified aircraft.
Maybe so, but so what?
Typical certified planes are all metal and have small windows. If locked
when emergency, it is a difficult task to take bodies out. The doors are
also not easily openable during the flight (hinged fore). No reason to
lock or for pip-pins.
Our Europa is plastic, has large windows with thin and weak plexi
=93 easy to broke and take bodies out very fluently. I will not
try but I am almost sure a normal man can open the door the bolts
engaged by his hands only. If he has any tool or a stone he can do it
surely. What more important =93 those doors would love to open
during the flight! Pip-pin is for every-flight-safety!
***
I well remember =93 once I tried to open the door of our Cessna
during cruise flight. With full power I opened it and got a cap 200-300
mm, no more.
BTW =93 Cessna 172N 1982 POH: before departure lock the doors!
There was a nice elbow rest in the door but it was imposible to use it
without locking the door. And Cessna is certified machine I assume!
***
You are free to lose your doors during flight. I hope you are happy then
and think: =9C hey I am a pilot who follows the rules anyway
=9C. RIP =93 he followed strictly every possible rules to
the final end.
***
LAA says no no for in-glight locked doors. Obviously pip-pins in
Europa=C2=B4s door are criminal also if used them in-flight? You boys in
UK have semi-experimentals if you have to follow so stupid rules. Judge
yourself.
Same time you are allowed by LAA to use those very dangerous original
auto type safety belts? And because they are allowed you use them. No
matter dangerous or not.
And you are pushed to try VNE every year...can it be true?
In Finland and I assume in most countries you =93 the builder -
are also the designer, who make the orders to The POH. Like using
pip-pins or what so ever.
Pilot is a God in the plane with full responsibilitet =93 nothing
is over her /him. Not even LAA.
Now I am sure I am soon invited to any LAA happening to talk about
flight safety. Or instead of that maybe they will send some Spitfires to
hunt me if I ever dare to fly over Channnel (which is my long time
goal).
***
A little story from near history: during my Cessna time I use to have a
smooth hammer in the plane. My habit was to show it to all my new
passengers. I promised to knock their head if necessary. I said also
that is ok according The International Flight Rules. Not true but they
all believed and behavioured very well. I never hit anybody during the
flight, believe me. That is strictly illegal but you can be sure I would
have done it if necessary. Safety over The Rules...
I have nothing to say any more.
Cheers, Raimo Toivio (sometimes happily outlawed for a total safety)
Europa XS Mono OH-XRT #417
Updated Europa flight hours /landings: 257,15 /466
Total flight time /landings: 872,45 /1423
37500 Lempaala
FINLAND
p +358-3-3753 777
f +358-3-3753 100
toivio@fly.to
www.rwm.fi
From: houlihan
Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2012 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: AW: Europa-List: Deformation of canopy
Hi Bruno.
Be advised that fitting a locking pin on the inside of the door could
impede access to someone attempting to get you out in an emergency if
you are unable to do it yourself, of course if its only your passenger
it may not matter too much !.
( the last comment is not meant to be taken seriously ! ! :<))
That would not be allowed on a certified aircraft.
Tim
On 4 February 2012 09:59, uvtreith <uvtreith@t-online.de> wrote:
Hi Raimo,
In fact, my first idea was to use the green LEDs as you suggest. LEDs
on = doors closed. But than I thought, better no lights on when system
is ok. But you are right; green lights will give you a safer feeling. In
my opinion, as the rear door bolts are critical, switches on the rear
bolts should be do it.
I have seen your pippins to secure the handles. I will do the same for
the passenger side.
Have a nice and safe flight time too.
All the best,
Bruno
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Von: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] Im Auftrag von Raimo
Toivio
Gesendet: Freitag, 3. Februar 2012 20:03
An: europa-list@matronics.com
Betreff: Re: AW: Europa-List: Deformation of canopy
Hi Bruno,
I elected to make a system which have two serial connected micro
switches per door. When they are BOTH IN I have a green led. When I have
two green leds I am pretty sure my doors are firmly closed.
Otherwice, they are open OR system is somehow broken. Two Greens =
The System is operational = The Doors are closed.
Maybe you would like to have red lights (when doors are open) instead
of greens or change MS=C2=B4s to be NO (normally open [when doors are
open]) as I have them.
I promise what more you see green lights when flying that happier you
will be (there are possibilities to have masses of green)! ;)
***
Notice also my extra safety: there is also a pip-pin to prevent an
unwanted inflight door opening.
Just my =C2=BD penny or how those englismen that says so gently and
good luck for you!
Raimo
Cheers, Raimo Toivio
Europa XS Mono OH-XRT #417
Updated flight hours /landings: 257,15 /466
37500 Lempaala
FINLAND
p +358-3-3753 777
f +358-3-3753 100
toivio@fly.to
www.rwm.fi
From: uvtreith
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 6:51 PM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: AW: Europa-List: Deformation of canopy
Hi Roland,
I would leave the door inside its door frame and would wait for warmer
days; maybe it will set by itself after a while.
The best protection for this is to built in an advice. I will install
in springtime two micro switches mounted on an aluminium plate together
with a common carriage bolt (Schlo=C3=9Fschraube).
Please see attached pictures (just made for you). You have to make one
mirror inverted (spiegelverkehrt). The switch-bolt arrangement weights
35 gramm each.
In my panel I have fitted two small green LED lights and the micro
switches are openers. When the door is correctly closed, the LED will go
out.
Best Regards,
Bruno
-----Urspr=C3=BCngliche Nachricht-----
Von: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] Im Auftrag von Roland
Gesendet: Freitag, 3. Februar 2012 12:32
An: europa-list@matronics.com
Betreff: Europa-List: Deformation of canopy
Hi all,
yesterday something embarrassing (and dangerous) happened to me. After
departure (already in 5000 ft) I noticed that the door on the
copilot-side was not locked on the rear side (I almost hear you saying:
"that cannot happen when you worked through the checklist prior take
off"). You are so right!
After the first shock (suddenly the appropriate passage of the POH
came crystal clear in my mind: "when the door springs open it will most
likely depart the aircraft") I asked my Co to pull the handle in front
and I did the same on the rear.
I was so lucky to land with my Europa as a whole!! When leaving the
aircraft my Co noticed a resistance when opening the door. It turned
out, that the frame on the top of the door seemed to be deformed in a
way that the gap between door and frame/roof became too small causing
this resistance approximately when half open (then the door frame
contacts the roof frame) . When complete open or closed everything seems
normal. The hinges and screws where it's mounted are apparently
undamaged.
Does anyone have a suggestion how to bring the door into a perfect fit
again?
Thanks for your input!
Regards
Roland
PH-ZTI
Trigear XS
Rotax 914
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