Adding to what Lee said, in some crashes more significant vertical
velocity, it is the control column and not
the engine that ruptures the fuselage tank (and maybe causes the
necessary spark). A piece of nylon sheet
stock attached with epoxy on the bottom of the fuselage tank over the
column just might make the difference
at times (of course, verify it does not touch or in any interfere with
normal operation of the steering column).
Also, the pilot and passenger are at much greater risk from wearing
polyester clothing than from original
upholstery under them. In a fire, this melts and is really hard on
skin.
A nomex flight suit is by far the best protection over cotton
unmentionables, ideally with nomex gloves too.
Regards,
WRB
--
On Mar 23, 2009, at 09:34, [email protected] wrote:
> From the Ercoupe crashes (those I have researched) where the pilot and
> passengers have burned to death, the upholstry had no bearing on
> anything. Typically, the engine is displaced rearward, the fuselage
> tank ruptures, there is a spark which ignites the fuel which is
> covering the pilot and passenger who are horribly burned to death.
> This being said, it does not detract from the possibility of the
> flammibility of the upholstry causing the death in some future crash.
> However, that will not be one of my major concern. Just my opinion,
> everyone has one.
>
> Lee Browning
