REFLECTOR: Engine run

Wed Sep 10 12:42:06 CDT 2008

Here is an anecdote from my first engine-run experience.

We had Steve Murphree do the first run.  After thoroughly examining the aircraft, he climbed in a to do the run.  We had two people stand on each side of the airplane with fire extinguishers.

After a few minutes of run, one of the spotters saw fluid dripping below the plane and called for cut-off.  Within seconds, the drip turned into a steady stream.  Instead of coming from engine area, it was coming down from the air-brake area.

By then, Steve smelled gas and cut off the engine and hopped out as fast as he could as 100LL filled the cabin quickly.

After determining that the plane is not catching on fire, he tried to shut the fuel supply off using the fuel cutoff without any effect.  We clamped the hose from each tank to finally stop the 100LL Niagara Falls.

The vibration from the engine run has split the weak joint of the sump tank and caused the cabin to fill with fuel.  The fuel shutoff was downstream of the sump tank and had no effect.  We subsequently added individual cutoff at the tank.

I am glad the fuel did not flow backward toward the hot engine area or we might have had some really bad situation at hand.

Unexpected things DO happen...  Y'all be safe out there.

Hiroo

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Scott Derrick
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:13 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Engine run

Brian that is spot on!  Plan the work, work the plan!

Brian Michalk wrote:
> My two cents;
> I might be very particular, so you might find my suggestions to be
> overkill.  I have done engine starts on three different airplanes, and
> certainly have my opinions.
>
> 1) Have a test plan.  Is it going to be full throttle?  Are there
> temperature limitations?  RPM limitations? MAP limits?  For me, I did
> not want to exceed the annealing temperature of the rings so that I
> could hope for proper seating during flight.  I had specific
> components of the engine to test.  Mags, EFI, EI, sensors, etc.  Have
> a plan longer than you hope to complete.  This is an expensive part of the airplane.
> Treat it as such.
>
> 2) Have a safety plan.  Call it overkill, but I get enough fire
> extinguishers for everyone.  I place two people behind the airplane
> watching for loose things, and stuff that falls off the engine.
> Things have fallen off the engine for all three planes I've done.
> This is probably the most important job.  So important, that I never
> even got to start my own engine for the first five hours of test time
> logged.  I was always at an observation post behind the airplane.
> Have two more people in front of the strakes.  One watches the engine.
> The other keeps a hand on the pilot at the controls.  The pilot can't
> hear anyone screaming that there's a fire.  A few good swats about the
> head and shoulders certainly gets the pilot's attention to shut down.
> The person who is responsible for swatting the pilot should not be
> distracted by the engine.  This person watches the other observers,
> and makes sure curious bystanders do not become a safety problem.
>
> 3) Have a shutdown plan.  When the pilot is getting swatted, it's easy
> to get confused as to how to shut down.  What happens if pulling
> mixture does not kill the engine?  Discuss all possible ways of
> killing the engine, and do them all if it's an emergency.
>
> 4) Have an emergency plan.  What to do if someone gets hurt.  Yes,
> overkill, but five minutes of talking it through saves precious
> moments in a confusing aftermath.
>
> 5) Prepare for the event.  Remove all cowls, and possible inspection
> devices.  finger all of the wires/harnesses.  Will they get into the
> prop?  Will they come loose?  Invite everyone to question the installation.
>
> Brief everyone on their responsibility.  Everyone is to stick to the
> plan.  Do not do anything unexpected.  This doesn't have to be
> formally documented.  Before each run, just announce to everyone what
> is going to happen, and have an understanding between everyone.
>
> As you go through your plan.  Write down the conditions of the test,
> and what happened.  It sure helps when trying to troubleshoot.
> Running the engine is for collecting data.  You aren't going to fix
> anything while the engine is running, so make the best use of your runtime.
>
>
>
> Ken C. Baker wrote:
>> Jeff,
>>
>> Sure, we run engines with the wings and canard off all the time. Just
>> make sure that you properly restrain the aircraft - chalks, chains,
>> etc. Also, make sure to have a safety spotter standing by with a fire
>> extinguisher.
>>
>> Beyond that  - let her rip!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> -Ken Baker
>> kenb at velocityaircraft.com <mailto:kenb at velocityaircraft.com>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ---
>> *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org
>> [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]
>> *On Behalf Of *Jeff Howell
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 10, 2008 2:39 AM
>> *To:* Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>> *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Engine run
>>
>> Ken, I am going to be running my engine for the first time this
>> weekend. I was wondering if there is anything I should know before
>> doing so. I am not currently at the airport so the wings are not
>> installed. has this been done before and IS IT SAFE? thanx Jeff
>>
>>> From: kenb at velocityaircraft.com
>>> To: reflector at tvbf.org
>>> Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:33:14 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Web alert Velocity web page changed
>>>
>>> All,
>>>
>>> In the process of trying to clean up the manual webpages -- no
>>> actual changes to the manuals themselves.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> -Ken
>>> kenb at velocityaircraft.com
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]
>>> On Behalf Of Brian Michalk
>>> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:40 PM
>>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Web alert Velocity web page changed
>>>
>>> Changes to all manuals?
>>>
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualserg.html
>>>
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualsefg.html
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualxlfg.html
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualxlrg.html
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualxlfg5.html
>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualxlrg5.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> velocity_monitor at awpi.com wrote:
>>>> For details visit
>>>> http://www.velocityaircraft.com/manuals/manualsefg.html
>>>> The following parts has been changed since last visited:
>>>> ***************
>>>> *** 1,7 ****
>>>> [IMAGE]
>>>>
>>>> - [IMAGE]
>>>> -
>>>> Standard Elite Fixed Gear Construction Manual
>>>>
>>>> Notes: We recommend that you download just the PDF
>>>> --- 1,5 ----
>>>> [IMAGE]
>>>>
>>>> Standard Elite Fixed Gear Construction Manual
>>>>
>>>> Notes: We recommend that you download just the PDF
>>>>
>>>
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