---------------------------------------------------------- RV10-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 11/06/10: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:45 AM - Re: door safety latch (Gordon Anderson) 2. 05:09 PM - Re: Re: door safety latch (rv10builder@verizon.net) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:45:32 AM PST US From: "Gordon Anderson" Subject: RE: RV10-List: door safety latch Aaron, Good feedback. Can I ask if you reported the incident to Van's? Cheers, Gordon Anderson #41015, starting tailcone, Lederhosenland From: owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Aaron Gleixner Sent: 05 November 2010 02:50 Subject: Re: RV10-List: door safety latch Chris, I installed the Van's latch to plans, and have about 80 hours with it. Its not hard to open from inside or outside, and the latch allows the door to stay open a little on hot days. The only concern I have to date is recently I got a little agressive on the runup with just the safety latch engaged, and the door flew open. With this happening on a ground runup with just the prop blast, I have serious doubts it would hold if the main latch failed in flight. I suspect the door would open just enough for the wind to grab it, flex it, and tear it off. Now its possible that my install is not exactly like others, but after that incident, I now assume the safety latch will be ineffective. I might start to feel a little better if there are a few real examples of this latch working in flight. If I had to do it again, I would bite the bullet and buy one of the 3rd party options being offered. Their secondary benefits are that there is just one handle to move in an emergency, and they suck the door tight prior to engaging the pins. Just my 2 cents. Aaron _____ From: Chris Hukill Sent: Thu, November 4, 2010 8:55:06 PM Subject: RV10-List: door safety latch Has anyone come up with a cool CNC machined replacement for the C1018 safety latch that Vans provides for the door service bulletin? Can I buy a couple? I also wonder why the latch is installed in the center of the door, instead of the front, near the handle. Maybe the idea is that the rear seat pax can reach it there, with an unconscious co-pilot after a wreck. But the forward location would allow the front seater to reach it without turning or reaching behind them during normal ops or an emergency. Also the fact that it is forward would maybe provide more security for it's designed function, that is keeping the door from opening and flying off the airplane. If the door is held in the center, due to the failure of the primary latches, it could flex quite a bit, and maybe catch the wind enough to tear off the airplane. If the safety latch is forward, then the small partial opening in the front should not allow the air to get behind the door, flex it, and create havoc. Anyone deviate from the plans? I'm getting ready to cut some holes, and would like a discussion on this. Doors are kicking my #!**? Chris Hukill www.======================= Month -- Gifts!) Raiser. Click on out more about Gifts provided ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:09:40 PM PST US From: rv10builder@verizon.net Subject: Re: RE: RV10-List: door safety latch My guess if one contacted Vans they will state that it "was the first they have heard of it" Personally, I skipped the latch as I saw it as being worthless from the first look. The latch assumes that the doors are going straight out/up which is not the case. Grab the door and move it fore and aft and notice the amount of movement, that is what happens when the door flies off it goes aft than off, that is why the 3rd party concepts work well, they latch the door down and dont allow the door to move out or back. Anyone with the Vans latch will experience the same issue, better to have nothing than false hope. Pascal Nov 6, 2010 02:58:51 AM, rv10-list@matronics.com wrote: Aaron, Good feedback. Can I ask if you reported the incident to Vans? Cheers, Gordon Anderson #41015, starting tailcone, Lederhosenland From: owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Aaron Gleixner Sent: 05 November 2010 02:50 Subject: Re: RV10-List: door safety latch Chris, I installed the Van's latch to plans, and have about 80 hours with it. Its not hard to open from inside or outside, and the latch allows the door to stay open a little on hot days. The only concern I have to date is recently I got a little agressive on the runup with just the safety latch engaged, and the door flew open. With this happening on a ground runup with just the prop blast, I have serious doubts it would hold if the main latch failed in flight. I suspect the door would open just enough for the wind to grab it, flex it, and tear it off. Now its possible that my install is not exactly like others, but after that incident, I now assume the safety latch will be ineffective. I might start to feel a little better if there are a few real examples of this latch working in flight. If I had to do it again, I would bite the bullet and buy one of the 3rd party options being offered. Their secondary benefits are that there is just one handle to move in an emergency, and they suck the door tight prior to engaging the pins. Just my 2 cents. Aaron From: Chris Hukill Sent: Thu, November 4, 2010 8:55:06 PM Subject: RV10-List: door safety latch Has anyone come up with a cool CNC machined replacement for the C1018 safety latch that Vans provides for the door service bulletin? Can I buy a couple? I also wonder why the latch is installed in the center of the door, instead of the front, near the handle. Maybe the idea is that the rear seat pax can reach it there, with an unconscious co-pilot after a wreck. But the forward location would allow the front seater to reach it without turning or reaching behind them during normal ops or an emergency. Also the fact that it is forward would maybe provide more security for it's designed function, that is keeping the door from opening and flying off the airplane. If the door is held in the center, due to the failure of the primary latches, it could flex quite a bit, and maybe catch the wind enough to tear off the airplane. If the safety latch is forward, then the small partial opening in the front should not allow the air to get behind the door, flex it, and create havoc. Anyone deviate from the plans? I'm getting ready to cut some holes, and would like a discussion on this. Doors are kicking my #!**? Chris Hukill www.======================= www.aeroelectric.comwww.buildersbooks.comwww.homebuilthelp.comhttp://www.matronics.com/contributionhttp://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-Listhttp://forums.matronics.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv10-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV10-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rv10-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv10-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.