REFLECTOR: Unexpected door opening

[Alex Balic]

Has anyone done any research into this situation? Are the pins detaching, or
are the hardpoints pulling out from the fuselage? Or are the doors just
coming unlatched during flight and tearing out? Would be good to have some
data

 

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From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Al Gietzen
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 1:42 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: REFLECTOR: Unexpected door opening

 

 

By "we" I assume you had someone sitting in the passenger seat when this all
happened?   What was their version of the story as the door disappeared, I
assume they were buckled in.    

Yes; my good friend, and fellow Velocity builder, was with me.  He was kind
enough to compliment my bringing the plane to a safe landing; and during the
ordeal, was helpful in answering my queries about runway lengths and call
frequencies.  Other than that he hasn't said much; but would have every
right to have been very frightened. He was very helpful in working with me
in the process of recovering the airplane. A greater friend would be very
hard to find.

 

Great job of handling the emergency and "flying the plane."    One of our
local velocitites had the pilot door come open a few months ago which stayed
attached and the plane was almost uncontrollable. 

With that it makes 4 cases that I am aware of.  I am fortunate that the door
departed the plane, but at about 200 mph, that's the likely outcome.  Also
very fortunate that it did not impact the prop.

 

Al

   

 

 

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