CT4ME Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 There is a new SB, for checking the Parachute Egress Hatch... the little spot that the 'Chute is supposed to exit through. Apparently, during another, non-related, accident investigation, a hatch was found to have been installed (or re-installed) wrong. This seems to affect almost ALL CTSW and CTLS, up to the most recent. You have 3 months to comply, which entails inspecting the installation, and removing and re-installing the hatch if it was not done properly. http://flightdesignusa.com/2015/10/service-bulletin-verification-of-rescue-system-cover-installation/ http://flightdesign.com/files/Service%20Bulletin/PZ25606005_00.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted October 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 It looks like taped hatches are not allowed... nor anything that might restrict its opening, including just sanding the surfaces! I'm guessing repainting or sealers are verboten, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 How would incorrect install have happened factory or some AP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Maybe they didn't know all this back when and just discovered the issue and contributing factors? After they discovered one they may have done some testing? I'm just speculating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Mine is being examined and corrected as part of my current annual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Hi Roger, Would you want to post a sample logbook entry if our hatch is OK? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 In accordance with the Flight Design Service Bulletin SB-ASTM-CTSW-13 (or SB-ASTM-CTLS-11) encompassing "verification of the rescue system cover installation" this aircraft had this inspection performed. This aircraft meets the correct standards as set forth by the service bulletin for acceptance of the system recovery hatch. mechanic's signature and cert # or just Blah, blah, blah I looked at it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Okay, I'm about to make almost all of you feel better. If your hatch was factory installed you most likely are just fine. (I said most likely because I can't say 100%) The bulletin affects those that had the hatch installed after it came from the factory. This may also have been done if someone removed the hatch to remove the chute for its inspection. I really hope no one did this. The other instance would be if for some reason a dealer received the plane without the hatch in place (not common) and then they installed the chute and glued the hatch in place. The hatch does not need to be removed to install or remove the BRS chute. If you look on the inside lip or the outside and you see sanding marks then you are affected. No sanding marks or no sunken hatch then no problem. Hopefully out of approximately 360 aircraft there will be only a handful and no more than 20 +/-. This is just a guess. This worry may be a little over stated. They are a little worried because they can not calculate the lost inertia from the rocket going through the hatch versus knocking it out of place. I don't think there has been any specific testing for this scenario. The hatch was designed to come out. If someone after it left the factory sanded the edges making a better bond and used the wrong epoxy it could remain in place and then the rocket may ? knock it out or have to punch through. Bottom line the majority of the CT's should be in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted October 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 So, Enquiring minds want to know.... more about the chute deployment that brought this issue up. I was not aware of any recent CT deployments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Okay, I'm about to make almost all of you feel better. If your hatch was factory installed you most likely are just fine. (I said most likely because I can't say 100%) The bulletin affects those that had the hatch installed after it came from the factory. This may also have been done if someone removed the hatch to remove the chute for its inspection. I really hope no one did this. The other instance would be if for some reason a dealer received the plane without the hatch in place (not common) and then they installed the chute and glued the hatch in place. The hatch does not need to be removed to install or remove the BRS chute. If you look on the inside lip or the outside and you see sanding marks then you are affected. No sanding marks or no sunken hatch then no problem. Hopefully out of approximately 360 aircraft there will be only a handful and no more than 20 +/-. This is just a guess. This worry may be a little over stated. They are a little worried because they can not calculate the lost inertia from the rocket going through the hatch versus knocking it out of place. I don't think there has been any specific testing for this scenario. The hatch was designed to come out. If someone after it left the factory sanded the edges making a better bond and used the wrong epoxy it could remain in place and then the rocket may ? knock it out or have to punch through. Bottom line the majority of the CT's should be in good shape. Roger, over on the thread (CTLSi - major delays - frozen deliveries?) one guy says he is taking delivery of a new plane partially built. He says they are delivering it sans BRS and avionics installation. It appears the factory is changing much in the way they are building and delivering product...Not in a good way IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 They may be doing it this way to help get them out of the factory quicker due to manpower issues and allow the dealer's manpower to help close the delivery gap. Just guessing here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Speculation... BRS contains explosives which require special handling/permitting to ship. At least that is the case for the CAPS rocket in the Cirrus. It ain't cheap shipping explosives. Maybe shipping CT's with explosives contained therein is a logistical hurdle and possibly prohibitively expensive? The rocket might have to be shipped, special handling, from the US to Ukraine or Germany or wherever, installed, then shipped back, special handling, with the plane. If that speculation is even close to being correct, shipping the planes here sans BRS and having it installed here might really make a lot of fiscal and logistical sense. But, like I said...speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 The chute rocket must be in parts and assembled at a dealer or owner if shipped to an individual. The rocket can not be shipped assembled. The chute can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 There is a new SB, for checking the Parachute Egress Hatch... the little spot that the 'Chute is supposed to exit through. Apparently, during another, non-related, accident investigation, a hatch was found to have been installed (or re-installed) wrong. This seems to affect almost ALL CTSW and CTLS, up to the most recent. You have 3 months to comply, which entails inspecting the installation, and removing and re-installing the hatch if it was not done properly. http://flightdesignusa.com/2015/10/service-bulletin-verification-of-rescue-system-cover-installation/ http://flightdesign.com/files/Service%20Bulletin/PZ25606005_00.pdf I want to point out to readers: FD's website post is NOT in agreement with the service bulletin for affected aircraft! The service bulletin is the ONLY source you can use to determine if you are affected (or unless you get an exemption letter from FD) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Speculation... BRS contains explosives which require special handling/permitting to ship. At least that is the case for the CAPS rocket in the Cirrus. It ain't cheap shipping explosives. Maybe shipping CT's with explosives contained therein is a logistical hurdle and possibly prohibitively expensive? The rocket might have to be shipped, special handling, from the US to Ukraine or Germany or wherever, installed, then shipped back, special handling, with the plane. If that speculation is even close to being correct, shipping the planes here sans BRS and having it installed here might really make a lot of fiscal and logistical sense. But, like I said...speculation. Flight Design has been shipping complete planes since day one with avionics and BRS installed. This is a change, or degradation in their process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Flight Design has been shipping complete planes since day one with avionics and BRS installed. This is a change, or degradation in their process. The problem is right now you have 2 choices. No planes or shipped and installations completed state side. There is 5 or 6 things combined that created this problem, and it will take a while before things get back to normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZAV8OR Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Roger, If I read the SB correctly, it looks like I "won" the lottery. ???? Do you have the procedure to fix it yet? For the record, this sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 What the tape for, mine has black strip around it or molding what ever they call it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Hi Kevin, Yours definitely needs a closer look, but from I see in the picture you may be right. If it needs fixing the hatch must be removed. The areas of sanding must be painted so it is smooth. Then the hatch gets glued back in place with some epoxy mixed with flox. Then the black door molding gets put around the edge of the hatch interior. This protects the cute from tearing in exit and the cords from being possible cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZAV8OR Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Roger, Are you available for a call today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 I'll be at the hangar this morning prepping for my Page flight Tuesday. I won't be available after 1530 hrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 The epoxy mix looks like cab-o-sil, not flox, in this case. You definitely want to make sure you use the right one. I am betting it's cab-o-sil as it weakens the epoxy bonding strength, which would probably be too strong in normal cases for the hatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 FD said flox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 That's really interesting. Flox strengthens epoxy up until it's saturated. Whats the ratio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I don't know? I would think in this case the flox would act more like filler and also keep it from bonding as well as pure epoxy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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