Legacy canopy latching

Submitted by Anonymous on

Forums: 

From: Charley Brown <browncc1 [at] verizon.net>
Sender: <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: Legacy canopy latching
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:05:28 -0400
To: <lml [at] lancaironline.net>

I recently completed Legacy #299, N550KC.  At 200 kias, one canopy latch "failed" -- specifically, the hooks remained over center in position, but the canopy went up and around the hooks.  This is undoubtedly due to the gap between the canopy (striker plate) and the hooks being too large in the first place -- there was probably a 1/4-inch gap when I started, and I shimmed the striker plate out towards the hooks (laminated a duplicate 4619 striker plate about 1/10-inch thick onto the original plate).  But clearly I didn't close the gap enough.



My questions are:  



(A) Anyone else encounter similar issues?  Given the dimensional variation of composite parts, I can't be the only person who's addressed this.  How did you fix?



(B) Is everyone actually testing their airplanes up to 275 kias redline?



(C) Anyone add a backup latch or safety system?  I'm not talking about the Reno approach of hinging from the rear -- too radical a change for a mere mortal like me.



All thoughts welcome!



Charley Brown

Legacy canopy latching

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Bill Bradburry <bbradburry [at] bellsouth.net>
Sender: <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [LML] Legacy canopy latching
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:37:08 -0400
To: <lml [at] lancaironline.net>
Message Header


Undecoded Message

Did the canopy come open in flight?  It is possible for the canopy to rise

high enough at lower speeds, (landing, take off) to blank off the elevator

and cause a loss of pitch control.



Bill B



-----Original Message-----

From: Lancair Mailing List [lml [at] lancaironline.net (mailto:)

] On Behalf Of

Charley Brown

Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 9:05 PM

To: lml [at] lancaironline.net

Subject: [LML] Legacy canopy latching



I recently completed Legacy #299, N550KC.  At 200 kias, one canopy latch

"failed" -- specifically, the hooks remained over center in position, but

the canopy went up and around the hooks.  This is undoubtedly due to the gap

between the canopy (striker plate) and the hooks being too large in the

first place -- there was probably a 1/4-inch gap when I started, and I

shimmed the striker plate out towards the hooks (laminated a duplicate 4619

striker plate about 1/10-inch thick onto the original plate).  But clearly I

didn't close the gap enough.

Legacy canopy latching

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Chris Zavatson <chris_zavatson [at] yahoo.com>
Sender: <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Legacy canopy latching
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:39:06 -0400
To: <lml [at] lancaironline.net>
Message Header


Undecoded Message
Charley,
The striker must seat in the radius of the hook regardless of the modifications required to get it there.  When seated properly the canopy cannot open. It would have to slide down into the fuslage and then translate forward.  The sketches supplied with my kit did not match reality by quite a bit, so I changed the mounting to make sure the strikers were positioned properly.
Chris Zavatson
N91CZ
360std

From: Charley Brown <browncc1 [at] verizon.net>
To: lml [at] lancaironline.net
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 6:05 PM
Subject: [LML] Legacy canopy latching


I recently completed Legacy #299, N550KC.  At 200 kias, one canopy latch "failed" -- specifically, the hooks remained over center in position, but the canopy went up and around the hooks.  This is undoubtedly due to the gap between the canopy (striker plate) and the
hooks being too large in the first place -- there was probably a 1/4-inch gap when I started, and I shimmed the striker plate out towards the hooks (laminated a duplicate 4619 striker plate about 1/10-inch thick onto the original plate).  But clearly I didn't close the gap enough.


My questions are: 

(A) Anyone else encounter similar issues?  Given the dimensional variation of composite parts, I can't be the only person who's addressed this.  How did you fix?

(B) Is everyone actually testing their airplanes up to 275 kias redline?

(C) Anyone add a backup latch or safety system?  I'm not talking about the Reno approach of hinging from the rear -- too radical a change for a mere mortal like me.

All thoughts welcome!

Charley Brown





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Legacy Canopy Latching

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Robert R Pastusek <rpastusek [at] htii.com>
Subject: Legacy Canopy Latching
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 20:48:39 +0000
To: Lancair Mailing List <lml [at] lancaironline.net>
Message Header


Undecoded Message

Gentlemen,

 

We have some people that are willing to take a serious engineering look at improving the Legacy canopy latching system. The objective will be to develop an
improvement/improvements that will reduce the likelihood of taking off with the canopy unlatched. If you have improved your Legacy latching system and would be willing to share the idea, pictures and/or drawings with this team in the interest of improving
overall safer operation of our fleet, please send me what you have. There will be no monetary compensation for this but we will acknowledge, by name, all who contribute to this effort.

 

The objective will be to develop a modification/retrofit kit of parts that can be added to the currently-flying or incorporated within under-construction Legacies.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!



Bob Pastusek

rpastusek [at] htii.com

757-286-4802