We've been there too. Totally agree with Jon, it's mandatory to verify that
the rear pin is really engaged. I push on front and rear side of both
windows as last line of my pre take off check list.
BTW this point has been addressed on this forum quite a bit ago and some
builders have added detection switches linked to leds on their panel, a bit
too much for me.
Hope your window is manufactured in the UK (grey color) as our came from USA
(dark color) and it was more expensive for travel than the price of the
window itself and it took 6 weeks to get it...
Max Cointe
mcointe@free.fr
F-PMLH Europa XS_TriGear
Kit #560-2003 912ULS/AirmasterAP332 520 hours
F-PLDJ DynAro MCR 4S
Kit #27-2002 912ULSFR/MTProp MTV7A 1650 heures
-----Message d'origine-----
De: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] De la part de JonSmith
Envoy: lundi 30 juin 2014 22:47
: europa-list@matronics.com
Objet: Europa-List: Re: DOOR detached during flight
--> <jonsmitheuropa@tiscali.co.uk>
Unfortunately this has happened a fair few times, indeed to a mate of mine
just last year.
What happens is that the (rear mounted) gas strut twists the door frame a
little when it is open. Thus when the door is lowered to close it, it
naturally wants to take up a position where the bottom edge of the door is
slightly too far aft. This causes the rear edge of the door to remain
outside of the door frame. Positioned thus, when you lock the door the
front shoot bolt locates normally but the rear one locates itself OUTSIDE of
the door frame. From inside the front of the door looks normal and the lock
handle looks and feels normal too. Only by looking round behind you will
you see that the rear edge of the door is out of position. Of course air
pressure on the door in flight will then flex it slightly further rearwards
and then it's game over (for the door).
I find when I close the door from the inside, when it's fully lowered I
apply a slight pressure forwards with a finger on the inside of the front
edge of the door and that moves the bottom of the door frame forward
slightly and you can literally hear and feel it pop into it's correct and
fully fitted position. This has really become an instinctive movement for
me. I also look at both ends of the door from the inside to ensure they are
fully snug in position. After locking it I press outwards on both front and
back of each door as a final check to ensure each end of the door is fully
secure.
Whilst you will never know for sure, my uneducated opinion is that there is
very little load on a correctly closed door in flight and if both shoot
bolts are correctly engaged the door cannot possible come open by accident.
Good luck and best wishes for a speedy repair.
--------
G-TERN
Classic Mono
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