Hello Richard,
I also have a Artex ME406 fitted in my Europa, today just completed my third
annual and it tested fine, though two others on the field with the same
model ELT have had failures, the G switch as Keith mentioned, the AD in this
country now requires a 6 month check of the unit until Artex gets it sorted.
My Antenna is mounted immediately behind my extended bagage bay, Pilot side,
the ground plane is a round plate of Aluminium mounted on a fibre glass
bracket which lets the right angled coax connection mate to the antenna
(just) and allows the ground plane to extend over the rudder cable, the
control unit is mounted aft of that, amidships, immediately forward of my
Txponder top-hat type antenna which is mounted forward of the Tailplane mass
balance guide. Alluding to what Keith said I used the coax that came with
the unit, its full length, I did not cut it but curled it up and cable tied.
I have never had a problem of any sort with this unit from day dot.
Regards Peter
ZK-ZEB.
fuselage. I have copper strips curving up the side of the
> fuselage and longditudinally in a square for a groundplane. We have had
> a number of problems with this ELT in New Zealand:
>
> 1) The self-test routine seems to have been made over-sensitive to
> various problems, and many people have had a "failed" self test saying
> there is a problem with the antenna or groundplane. Artex finally
> admitted there was a problem and suggested using a longer length of coax
> to increase the impedance. Our local avionics man after extensive
> testing of my unit thinks there might also be a problem with radiation
> from the antenna supressing the unit from transmission if the antenna is
> mounted close to the ELT. Apparently the units supplied for helicopters
> have metal screening of the unit to prevent this. On metal aircraft with
> the antenna outside the fuselage this is not a problem. It took us many
> months to get my unit to pass the self-test.
>
> 2) There is a problem with the g switches becoming corroded, and several
> have failed to activate in a crash. We currently have an AD requiring
> regular checks of the gswitch. Artex are working on this problem.
>
> 3) Several helicopters with this unit fitted have had the antenna break
> off in a crash so the unit has been inoperative. This shouldn't be a
> problem with the antenna mounted inside the fuselage.
>
> In summary, this unit has not been trouble-free in New Zealand, though
> Artex are working on the problems. Might be worth asking them about
> progress if you are going to use this unit.
>
> Regards,
> Keith.
>
>
> Keith Hickling,
> New Zealand.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Richard
> Lamprey
> Sent: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 10:35 p.m.
> Subject: Europa-List: ELTs, tailwheel bearings, carb problems
>
> Greetings from Kenya. I've saved up a few questions for the network,
> perhaps someone out there can help.
>
> 1. New regulations here dictate that we must now all fly with 406 ELT,
> and especially recommended is the Artex 406 (PLBs will not do here).
> This requires that for composite aircraft, the skin of the aircraft must
> have radial metallic strips, 1 inch wide, in the shape of a 6-point
> star, extending out for 24 inches in all directions. Seems a bit
> excessive for a Europa, where can we find that space? Behind bagage bay
> is obvious best bet. Will alumnium strips work (I have sticky aluminium
> tape, 2" wide). Has anyone fitted this arrangement? Does anyome have a
> mod approval, STC or something for the Artex 406 installation in a
> Europa, that I can wave at aviation officialdom here?
>
> 2. My tailwheel goes through bearings at the rate of knots, must be our
> dusty runways. But it is costly to fit new tailwheels, when the tyre
> itself is fine. Has anyone tried to fit the bearings available from
> Aircraft Spruce into the Europa tailwheel?
>
> 3. Two weeks ago I got into the Europa (Classic, 912UL), started up,
> and had very rough running. Under the hood, found that the left carb
> was leaking back through the connection to the plenum chamber, theres a
> small hole for water clearance, and fuel was pouring onto the ground.
> Further investigation revealed that all this seems to be because of an
> overflowing float chamber. The float 'needle' (with viton tip) looks
> absolutely clean, no grooves on its face, but no adjustment of the float
> bracket will stop the flow. The floats are fine. Has anyone had this
> problem after just 500 hours of flying? The fuel goes through an Andair
> gascolator upstream, so I am not sure what contamination caused this.
>
> Thanks, and all best to all for the New Year!
>
> Richard
> Europa 168, Kenya.
>
>
> ________________________________ Message 8
> _____________________________________
>
>
> From: Robert Borger <rlborger@mac.com>
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Door shootbolt rod material
>
>
> Tony,
>
> I have an original 1m X 10mm length of boltshoot aluminum rod. It seems
> like 2024
> or 6061 would be the most likely candidates. Probably worth all of $2.
> I'd
> be happy to forward the rod to you for the cost of shipping, but that
> probably
> exceeds the value by 3 or 4 times. It's up to you.
>
> Check six,
> Bob Borger
> http://www.europaowners.org/N914XL
> Europa XS, Short Wing, Intercooled Rotax 914
> rlborger@mac.com
> Cel: 817-992-1117
>
>
> On Jan 11, 2011, at 6:50 PM, Tony Renshaw wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi,
>> In the process of attempting to nominally increase the length of the aft
>> shootbolt
> throw, I cut the rod and sleeved it, but it now catches within the sill
> as it actuates. I think I might just replace the pushrod with new
> material, hopefully
> sourced locally. I know it doesn't have to be very strong, so maybe
> hardware
> grade aluminium might be OK for the 10 mm rod replacement? I could also
> possibly source the flattish rectangular product Europa uses on the door
> sill
> shoulder width mod, but I don't know its dimensions or what it is made of.
>> I am open to an requesting any ideas/suggestions on how I should overcome
>> this
> without international postage on a 1 m long item, a fortune.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Reg
>> Tony Renshaw
>> P.S. The 10 mm diameter is an issue of itself, as I don't seem to be able
>> to
> get that size locally, but I do have a mate with a lathe, so if I bought
> 1/2"
> we could turn it down.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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