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Afterfxllc(at)aol.com
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 Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: Another story from the horses mouth |
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601 Mishap
After the recent communication concerning a 601XL having its canopy open and resulting in a crash, I’d like to share my own story.
To start with, I’d like to say that I admire the pilot who managed to at least get it down without loss of life or serious injury. If he hadn’t been an experienced pilot I have no doubt the outcome would have been worse.
My own experience was about two and a half years ago. I’d recently had my 601XL inspected and was ready to fly it myself after a friend who was a CFI with many years experience test flew it first. The canopy had popped open on one of his high-speed taxis. No big deal, I thought. After all he’d just stopped and closed it. When he finally flew it, it stayed shut. Now it was my time.
On my take-off roll, at the go-no go, when I didn’t feel I could set it down, it popped open. Scared me to death but I knew I had no choice but to try to make a short pattern and get it back down on the ground. I remember the air rushing into the turtle deck making the plane hard to handle. After my crosswind leg I throttled back some, not much because I knew I had to fly the airplane first and that meant keeping my airspeed up. I made more of an oval than a rectangle pattern. I was really too low but didn’t know if I’d have to bring it down at any second. I had an overheated Jabiru up front. Sound familiar to any of you Jabiru owners?
There were power lines on my final approach----I was below them. I went for broke and shoved the throttle to the firewall and leaped over the power lines and landed. My friends who were watching were scared and amused for me. They all said I’d made a real good landing once I got over the power lines. I didn’t really care; I was alive and only needed to change my underwear.
That’s it. Congrats again guys. It could have been a lot worse
I ain’t gonna sign my name because I’m still embarrassed.
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
[quote][b]
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tshankland(at)sbcglobal.n
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject: Another story from the horses mouth |
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When the XL first was shown at Oshkosh I had not begun the fuselage on my 601HD. I decided that I did not like the side opening canopy because of reported openings and losses in flight. I remember asking when I was sitting in the display plane how I could open the canopy if the cable broke. I was told that I could insert a key of similar object into the small arc like openings by the latches and open the latch. When I build the built the canopy system for my plane my thought was that in an emergency if the cable doesn't work the last thing I want to have to do is to look for a key or something to stick in that hole. My solution was to make the pins longer so they protrude out. This serves two purposes first if the cable breaks or just doesn't work you just reach over and press the pin forward to release the latch and second it is very easy to tell if is properly latched. The attached picture shows the left side when the latch initially closes it will still be in the red when the final catch engages it is in the blue (I didn't have a green sharpie). Before takeoff I check each side this usually means the passenger has to lean forward but I always give it a firm press and make sure it is all the way to the end of the slot.
Tim Shankland
601HD N607TS
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craig(at)craigandjean.com
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: Another story from the horses mouth |
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I made the access holes big enough to stick my finger into and release the lever – about 1 inch tall by 1.5 inches wide. Not as pretty but my fingers are always at hand.
-- Craig
From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tim Shankland
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 8:28 PM
To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Another story from the horses mouth
When the XL first was shown at Oshkosh I had not begun the fuselage on my 601HD. I decided that I did not like the side opening canopy because of reported openings and losses in flight. I remember asking when I was sitting in the display plane how I could open the canopy if the cable broke. I was told that I could insert a key of similar object into the small arc like openings by the latches and open the latch. When I build the built the canopy system for my plane my thought was that in an emergency if the cable doesn't work the last thing I want to have to do is to look for a key or something to stick in that hole. My solution was to make the pins longer so they protrude out. This serves two purposes first if the cable breaks or just doesn't work you just reach over and press the pin forward to release the latch and second it is very easy to tell if is properly latched. The attached picture shows the left side when the latch initially closes it will still be in the red when the final catch engages it is in the blue (I didn't have a green sharpie). Before takeoff I check each side this usually means the passenger has to lean forward but I always give it a firm press and make sure it is all the way to the end of the slot.
Tim Shankland
601HD N607TS
[quote][b]
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amyvega2005(at)earthlink.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: Another story from the horses mouth |
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agreed, that pretty much what I do prior to take off as well. Once latched well, unless the person has lots of elbows, it stays shut.
juan
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