Paul,
So glad you're OK! The plane bits can be fixed.
Let me know if you need some replacement wing-tip lenses - I can let you
have mine in a hurry as I won't be fitting for a little while now.
Regards,
Jeremy
Jeremy Davey
Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA
Tail done
Standard XS wings with mods underway
CM installed in fuse (with airbrakes fittings)
1200 build hours to date
Intended fit:
Rotax 914 turbo, Airmaster CS fully-feathering prop
Lots of lights, buttons, switches, gizmos, and alarms
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Paul McAllister
Subject: Europa-List: Lightnoing Strike
<paul.mcallister@qia.net>
Hi all,
I departed yesterday from KUES up to Canada. About 90 minutes into the trip
I took a lightning hit. The weather was forecasted VFR clear, however about
70 minutes into the trip I began to suspect all was "not as advertised". I
noticed a cloud about 15 miles of my port side this looked ominous so I
diverted away from it. I was about to call flight service when suddenly I
saw a bright flash on the tip of my starboard wind. The starboard side was
clear weather so I may have been struck from the port side, but it was hard
to tell. The main contactor dropped off line so things went pretty quite
until I kicked in the "E Buss" circuit.
Damage is as follows. The paint is blistered on the starboard wing tip and
the port side is only blackened. Internal inspection reveals no sign of
burning. The wind tip lights are destroyed with some of the screws melted.
My Narco 122 VOR/LOC/GS is destroyed, my Navaids the electronic fuel gauge,
the main battery contactor and the manifold pressure sensing input to the
EIS engine monitor. The Apollo GX 60 GPS/NAV/Com and transponder survived.
There appears to by no structural damage to the aircraft or welding of the
control elements. I will know more over the next few days. It appeared
that the lighting entered a wing tip, traveled along the common ground
between the LED wing tip lights and exited the other wing tip.
Paul
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