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10-08-2014, 07:47 AM
Mike | In flight fires
In-flight fires
Now that the dust has settled, let's try to figure out what we can do to make these planes safer. Since there is a lack of a good poh (pilots operating handbook) for this plane I would like to focus this thread on in-flight fires and what can be done to prevent them....and if there is a fire, how to land safely.
We all know there have been several accidents over the years. We need to learn from them and try to figure out solutions for some of these issues that caused the accidents. By no means should you be discouraged by them. After all, if you check the FAA website stats, you will find several accidents daily. Because we have low numbers flying, the rate seems greater. Don't be discouraged!
Please add your comments and thoughts no matter how trivial or stupid you think they might be. Someone else is thinking the same thing and wants an answer!
I am going to add the disclaimer here: The following are suggestions and are not to be used as concrete answers to the issues that follow. Each situation is different and needs to be handled specifically as the issue arises. The following is a group discussion and not to be used for anything other than a discussion. With that being said.....
There should be two parts to this thread.
1- What can be done to prevent an in-flight fire?
And
2- What could be done if there is an in-flight fire?
Above all a great, not a good, preflight should Include a fondling of the engine compartment innards. I have created a pre-flight checklist of approximately 57 items that I go thru before each flight. Taking your time and checking the entire plane is important..!!
1- What can be done to prevent in flight fires? Whether your plane was built by the book or some variation of the book it really doesn't matter. The fact remains that in flight fires do happen. In my opinion the areas that need to be looked at closely is the engine and accessory compartment. Loose fittings and chaffing of the fuel line can cause problems.
When I rebuilt N20W eight years ago I decided to paint the inside of the plane with an intumescent paint. About now your asking yourself; what the hell is that? It is a paint that resists fire. Contego is one manufacture I chose because with an eight of an inch of paint it will give me a two hour burn time. It is a latex based paint that is easy to apply and does not off gas toxic fumes. I believe this would be great for the engine and accessory compartments.
After some thought this weekend a few other items come to mind.
A- A camera in the accessory compartment or the tail.
B- Temperature sensors set to 300* and 600* with LEDs and a horn in the cockpit.
C- Replace the aluminum fuel line from the dual pumps in the tunnel (rear of plane) to the engine with braided half inch (#8 or #10) fuel line.
D- Possibly sleeve the entire fuel line with fire sleeve to prevent chaffing. This would be over the braided fuel line. Another thought is to close both ends of the sleeve with fire caulk and vent the sleeve to the Pylon so that if there is a rupture the fuel would be sucked out of the sleeve to the outside. This might allow the engine to keep operating while there is a leak.
E- Fire suppression system.
2- What could be done if there is an in-flight fire? I believe the school of thought is to turn off all fuel to the engine or electrical components and then dive to put the fire out.
I have typically been flying at around 3,000 feet when flying between NY- Florida and back. Mainly because the winds are usually never good along my route of flight. The other reason is because below 3,000 feet I will be require to say hi to all the airports enroute. So now I am thinking 5-7,000 feet from now on so I can have a little more time before landing should I run into issues.
PAINT
http://contegointernational.com/indu...pace-aviation/
http://contegointernational.com
Mike | In flight fires
In-flight fires
Now that the dust has settled, let's try to figure out what we can do to make these planes safer. Since there is a lack of a good poh (pilots operating handbook) for this plane I would like to focus this thread on in-flight fires and what can be done to prevent them....and if there is a fire, how to land safely.
We all know there have been several accidents over the years. We need to learn from them and try to figure out solutions for some of these issues that caused the accidents. By no means should you be discouraged by them. After all, if you check the FAA website stats, you will find several accidents daily. Because we have low numbers flying, the rate seems greater. Don't be discouraged!
Please add your comments and thoughts no matter how trivial or stupid you think they might be. Someone else is thinking the same thing and wants an answer!
I am going to add the disclaimer here: The following are suggestions and are not to be used as concrete answers to the issues that follow. Each situation is different and needs to be handled specifically as the issue arises. The following is a group discussion and not to be used for anything other than a discussion. With that being said.....
There should be two parts to this thread.
1- What can be done to prevent an in-flight fire?
And
2- What could be done if there is an in-flight fire?
Above all a great, not a good, preflight should Include a fondling of the engine compartment innards. I have created a pre-flight checklist of approximately 57 items that I go thru before each flight. Taking your time and checking the entire plane is important..!!
1- What can be done to prevent in flight fires? Whether your plane was built by the book or some variation of the book it really doesn't matter. The fact remains that in flight fires do happen. In my opinion the areas that need to be looked at closely is the engine and accessory compartment. Loose fittings and chaffing of the fuel line can cause problems.
When I rebuilt N20W eight years ago I decided to paint the inside of the plane with an intumescent paint. About now your asking yourself; what the hell is that? It is a paint that resists fire. Contego is one manufacture I chose because with an eight of an inch of paint it will give me a two hour burn time. It is a latex based paint that is easy to apply and does not off gas toxic fumes. I believe this would be great for the engine and accessory compartments.
After some thought this weekend a few other items come to mind.
A- A camera in the accessory compartment or the tail.
B- Temperature sensors set to 300* and 600* with LEDs and a horn in the cockpit.
C- Replace the aluminum fuel line from the dual pumps in the tunnel (rear of plane) to the engine with braided half inch (#8 or #10) fuel line.
D- Possibly sleeve the entire fuel line with fire sleeve to prevent chaffing. This would be over the braided fuel line. Another thought is to close both ends of the sleeve with fire caulk and vent the sleeve to the Pylon so that if there is a rupture the fuel would be sucked out of the sleeve to the outside. This might allow the engine to keep operating while there is a leak.
E- Fire suppression system.
2- What could be done if there is an in-flight fire? I believe the school of thought is to turn off all fuel to the engine or electrical components and then dive to put the fire out.
I have typically been flying at around 3,000 feet when flying between NY- Florida and back. Mainly because the winds are usually never good along my route of flight. The other reason is because below 3,000 feet I will be require to say hi to all the airports enroute. So now I am thinking 5-7,000 feet from now on so I can have a little more time before landing should I run into issues.
PAINT
http://contegointernational.com/indu...pace-aviation/
http://contegointernational.com