REFLECTOR: Al, and the door that needs rehinging.

Alex Balic velocity_pilot at verizon.net
Mon Jun 1 14:02:39 CDT 2009


That hinge re-location sounds like a really good idea- I have my setup a bit
different because of an extended strake, but I might just look at that
before I get to painting. Do you have anything up on the Velocity Wiki about
that Rodney?

 

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of RBrim
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 1:24 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Al, and the door that needs rehinging.

 

Al,

Wanted to join the group and communicate that I'm glad you are OK.  Want to
also remind you and the group, that the current door design has the
potential to make the plane unflyable.  Having had the door fly open upon
departure and gear up, I can confirm that the plane will go into a spin away
from the open (fully extended) door, if you turn away from the door.  Note:
in my case the door opener hydraulic strut was gone, so the door was
extended up almost vertically.  I subsequently rehinged the doors so they
both hinge from the front, instead of the top.  I have tested and confirmed
that I can fly with either or both doors ajar, the door just stays within
one inch next to the body in the slip stream, windy, but nothing to write
home about.  

 

When my door eventually tore off, I also experienced that the plane settled
down, and other than charts flying about in the wind and having a hard time
hearing over the wind noise, the plane flew predictably.  

 

BTW, if any of you find yourself in this predicament, starting to go
inverted at less than 200 feet off the end of the runway upon departure.  I
couldn't find a way to climb out of it.  There is not enough elevator
control, nor enough rudder control to recover.   In my case I was only able
to get back to a 60 degree bank and the plane will stall.  You'll need to do
other manuvers.

 

Rodney Brim, Ph.D.

Performance Solutions Technology, LLC

Ph. (707) 487-3000 | Skype. rbatpst
Blog -  www.ManagePro.com/Blog

 

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Al Gietzen
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:46 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Al, are you ok? How bad is the damage?

 

Chris; et. al.,

 

Of course I was very disappointed not to make the fly-in, and other stops
planned on the trip.  But I don't want anyone to be alarmed - I'm fine, and
I flew the plane back home today with an improvised door.

 

We were about an hour out, cruising happily along at 9500' and 170 KTAS,
when suddenly there was a noise and lots of wind blowing and the pilot side
door was gone.  I have no idea why it came unlatched - I had a double detent
spring which had always kept it solidly in the latched position.

 

It took only a few moments to determine that the plane was controllable
(meaning the door had departed), and that there was no prop vibration
meaning there was no prop damage. With a few moments to adapt to the new
aerodynamics; it was a matter of flying to the nearest airport about 10
miles away.  Only when we got there, we found it was a small strip (looked
like dirt, although I found later it was paved) in the middle of the desert
with no structures of any kind anywhere in sight.  Since the plane was
flying stably, I decided to head off to another about 20 miles away; and
made a normal landing.

 

Upon landing we noted that the rear window on the passenger side had a large
hole in it. Apparently as the door ripped off it was swung over the top, and
the strake extension slammed into the window; and from there the door
bounced clear of prop. The front hinge mounting pad was torn out; the rear
hinge separated at the pin. The prop had a couple of minor marks on it
apparently made by pieces of the plexiglass from the window.

 

The plane was about 150 miles from home; and it is now safely back in it's
hangar.  All in all, the damage is not too bad; just a lot of work to do to
replace the door with my custom strake extensions, etc.

 

Al

 

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 10:10 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: REFLECTOR: Al, are you ok? How bad is the damage?

 

Al,

 

Please, I know you must have many distractions between weighing your 

options and counting your blessings, but, if you get a chance, let us 

know what happened on your way to the Texas Rotary Round-up.

 

I was so excited to hear you were coming and dumbfounded at the third 

hand report of a problem.

 

Was it the co-pilot door that came open?  Reportedly it ripped 

out/damaged  the structure between the doors, but the reports are VERY 

sketchy, except that you are ok, so please forgive my ignorance.

 

Anxiously awaiting details.

 

Thanks, and of course, thrilled you are ok.

 

All the best,

 

Chris Barber

Houston

> 

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