Any thought of the benefit or not of blowing the canopy while in flight to mqke egress easier once on the ground?
Kurt Redinbaugh H-36 S/N 3660 On Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 1:55 PM Laurie Hoffman via dog < dog@lists.riverland.net.au> wrote: > In flight fire presents one of the worst scenarios for any pilot, > especially for one flying a resin soaked, plastic, fuel and oil carrying > airframe. > > The H36 AFM distinguishes between in flight engine and electrical fires. > > __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ > > Hoffmann > 3 > > H 36 > DIMONA > Emergency Procedures > > 3.10 *Engine fire during flight*: > > Throttle - full power > > Fuel Valve - OFF > > Cabin Heat - Push , > > Cabin air - Pull > > Ignition - OFF when engine Stops > > Slipping the aircraft can keep smoke and flames from the cockpit > > Execute normal landing from a glide > > > > 3. 11 *Electrical Fire during flight*: > > Main Switch - OFF > > Circuit breakers - PULL OFF > > > The engine will continue to run. Land as soon as practical or at the next > airfield > > __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ > > > With the loss of a well known and highly experienced glider pilot in his > MG due in flight fire last year, this topic is fresh in the minds of most > Aussie glider pilots. > > Nigel made the point that often a pilot may be unable to distinguish > between these types of fires during flight. Depending on the location and > nature of the smoke source within the cockpit that may well point to an > electrical fire but does it really matter which type of fire you have to > contend with? > > The reality is that if it continues to burn (and it will) one type is no > less hotter or catastrophic than the other although an electrical fire may > take a little longer but be more toxic! > > > As with the previous section on engine failure during early climb out, the > AFM contains some sound advice and Nigel and I would argue, some less sound > advice. > in my opinion it badly understates the urgency to get the aircraft down > onto the ground asap. > > > Recommendations: > > 1. In the event of ANY fire, carry out ALL of the AFM actions listed for > BOTH Engine and Electrical fires. > > 2. WHILE doing the above, apply the greatest side slip that you can manage > and pull full spoilers as soon as your left hand is free from turning off > and pulling things. (The side slipping is for the reasons provided in the > AFM and also to redirect heat away from the canopy and cockpit) > > 3. Fly your Dimona through a wide spiraling descent so that you can survey > the best landing areas in your immediate vicinity on each turn and plan for > a rapid arrival at one. > > 4. Forget "*Execute normal landing from a glide*" just get the bloody > thing down so that you can egress and move well away upwind, while it burns. > > > > My Comments and as usual, appreciate your thoughts and feedback: > > 1 & 2. I plan to sit in the cockpit before startup on occasions, close my > eyes and visualise a fire. No time for finding and reading a checklist with > the H36. I'll just rehearse shutting everything off while entering a rapid > descent using side slipping and full spoilers. > > 2. Its well worth staying current in side slipping. Caution required near > the ground close to roundout but practiced at height and then applied by > joining a high/steeper final occasionally provides ample opportunity. > > 3. Landing engine off and actually using your touring motor glider as a > glider now and again builds real confidence in putting your aircraft down > at other than a licenced airport. Aussie pilots flying sailplanes are > required to undergo an annual 'outlanding' check and this is an equally > good idea for MG pilots. > I have a very good Power Point on Outlanding developed by the GFA > Coaching dept if anyone is interested. > > 4. Be mindful of the toxicity of burning/smoldering plastics during > descent and try to lean towards any fresh air inlet for breathing in. > > Any other suggestions? > > Best Regards > Laurie > > *Sydney Australia* > > > > >
