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Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

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EdKranz

Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 132
Location: Hastings, MN

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:52 am Post subject: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

I just read an article in the latest "Sport Aviation" about a Lancair IV-P pilot who crashed due to fuel exhaustion. After the crash, the cabin was intact, and the crash should have been survivable. Unfortunately, he hit his head on the dash because he wasn't wearing his shoulder harness.  



The reason he wasn't wearing the shoulder harness was that you couldn't reach the fuel selector switch in that version of the Lancair while fully strapped in. The pilot most likely removed his harness when the engine quit in order to switch tanks, then either couldn't reach the belts again, or never had time to.

 



This raises two questions for me. First, when you are fully strapped in tight in a -10, is there anything critical that you can't reach? And second, is there a safe setup for inertial reel shoulder harnesses for the -10?

 



Here is the article I referenced. It's a good read: http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201204?folio=24#pg26

 



  [quote][b]

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_________________
Ed Kranz
RV10
Finishing
www.edandcolleen.com

dmaib@me.com

Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 454
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

There is nothing important I cannot easily reach while strapped in tightly. The main nuisance thing I can't reach without loosening the shoulder harness a bit, is the copilot air vent.

There are some inertia reel installations in -10's out there. One was a kit that beefed up the attach points in a big way. There were some posts on that kit recently either on this forum or VAF. I think the manufacturer has stopped producing the kit due to lack of demand, but was open to the idea of offering it again if there is some demand. I've looked at a couple that would simply bolt to the existing harness bolts, but have not followed up.

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_________________
David Maib
RV-10 #40559
New Smyrna Beach, FL

bruce1hwjohnson(at)yahoo.
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:27 am Post subject: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

David said it exactly as I would have, the only thing I can't reach is the co-pilot air vent, so no worries. 

        From: Ed Kranz <ed.kranz(at)gmail.com>

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com 

 Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 7:51 AM

 Subject: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

 I just read an article in the latest "Sport Aviation" about a Lancair IV-P pilot who crashed due to fuel exhaustion. After the crash, the cabin was intact, and the crash should have been survivable. Unfortunately, he hit his head on the dash because he wasn't wearing his shoulder harness.  

The reason he wasn't wearing the shoulder harness was that you couldn't reach the fuel selector switch in that version of the Lancair while fully strapped in. The pilot most likely removed his harness when the engine quit in order to switch tanks, then either couldn't reach the belts again, or never had time to.

This raises two questions for me. First, when you are fully strapped in tight in a -10, is there anything critical that you can't reach? And second, is there a safe setup for inertial reel shoulder harnesses for the -10?

Here is the article I referenced. It's a good read: http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201204?folio=24#pg26

  [quote]http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List<===================

[b]

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rene(at)felker.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:29 am Post subject: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

I have the inertial reels belts and love them....



http://www.n423cf.com/belts/



I do not sell them or represent David.  Just have his pages on my site as a

service.



Rene' Felker

N423CF

801-721-6080



--

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Mauledriver(at)nc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:22 am Post subject: Inertial Reels and fuel exhaustion

I would just add, that if you don't go the inertial belt route, you do 

need a means to keep the shoulder harnesses out of the way when you 

aren't strapped in.  I think just about everyone ends up with some kind 

of roof bracket.  Some for sale, some fabricated, but it seems to me 

they are necessary to make their regular use a pleasure.  A couple of 

hours with some aluminum sheet and a few blind nuts allowed me to 

produce a useable set.



Bill



On 3/30/2012 10:51 AM, Ed Kranz wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I just read an article in the latest "Sport Aviation" about a Lancair 

 IV-P pilot who crashed due to fuel exhaustion. After the crash, the 

 cabin was intact, and the crash should have been survivable. 

 Unfortunately, he hit his head on the dash because he wasn't wearing 

 his shoulder harness.



 The reason he wasn't wearing the shoulder harness was that you 

 couldn't reach the fuel selector switch in that version of the Lancair 

 while fully strapped in. The pilot most likely removed his harness 

 when the engine quit in order to switch tanks, then either couldn't 

 reach the belts again, or never had time to.



 This raises two questions for me. First, when you are fully strapped 

 in tight in a -10, is there anything critical that you can't reach? 

 And second, is there a safe setup for inertial reel shoulder harnesses 

 for the -10?



 Here is the article I referenced. It's a good read: 

 http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201204?folio=24#pg26

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Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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