mppalmer(at)aol.com
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 Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject: Frozen Glasair pilot canopy problem |
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Had a strange problem with a Glasair canopy the other day. I think I
figured it out. Let's see what you all think.
My airplane partner and I flew to Seligman, Arizona for the $100
hamburger. (Actually, cheesecake. If you're flying over NW Arizona,
stop in at Lilo's Restaurant, within a 10 minute walk from P23. World
famous. Featured on a TV show in Germany.) Everything on the trip there
worked fine.
We landed at Seligman with a snow squall coming. It was about 40 to 45
degrees. Locked the plane and walked to the restaurant.
While at the restaurant, a dry snow blew for about 40 minutes to an
hour, with a 20 to 30 kt wind. After that, the snow stopped, the sky
cleared overhead (blue above), but no sun due to other clouds blocking
it to the SW.
When we returned to the airplane (about 4:30 pm), I noticed some snow
had stuck to the airframe. I thought that was strange, given the fact
it was dry snow. See photo.
img803.imageshack.us/img803/2126/frozencanopy.jpg
When my partner tried to open the pilot side canopy, it only opened an
inch or two. I could hear noise coming from the hinge area at the top,
and that's where the canopy seemed to be binding. I thought one of the
hinge pins must have backed out. (Although in 17 years, I've never seen
those pins move.) Or they rusted solid. (I admit, I've gotten lazy
about removing the pins and greasing very couple years.) It took a long
time with frozen fingers to try to peel away the bulb seal and
upholstery to inspect. (Especially since the canopy wouldn't open.)
But the pins were fine.
Not being able to figure out what was wrong and not wanting to damage
the hinge pins by forcing the canopy open, my partner climbed into the
plane from the copilot side. When we got back to home base, I got out
and immediately shot some LPS into the hinges. I tried the canopy and
it opened as it always had, without any resistance or noise.
Whatddya think?
Mike Palmer <><
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