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  #1  
Old 08-24-2008, 09:26 AM
Mike Ice Mike Ice is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sedro Wooley, WA
Posts: 147
Default oil door popped open in flight

Just a heads up and a question for those who have the camlock oil doors.

Has your oil door ever opened in flight? If so what did you do to correct the problem?

Yesterday at about 150 mph the oil door on the 9 popped open in flight. The good news is that it stayed with the plane and still works. I have it installed with only one push button cam lock in the center and will now probably add some quarter turn camlocks on in the outer edge corners.

Mike Ice
RV-9
30 hours and still having fun.

Last edited by Mike Ice : 08-24-2008 at 09:27 AM. Reason: spelled word wrong
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  #2  
Old 08-24-2008, 12:25 PM
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Rick6a Rick6a is offline
 
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Location: Lake St. Louis, MO.
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ice View Post
Just a heads up and a question for those who have the camlock oil doors.

Has your oil door ever opened in flight? If so what did you do to correct the problem?

Yesterday at about 150 mph the oil door on the 9 popped open in flight. The good news is that it stayed with the plane and still works. I have it installed with only one push button cam lock in the center and will now probably add some quarter turn camlocks on in the outer edge corners.

Mike Ice
RV-9
30 hours and still having fun.
The oil door on my -6A has never popped open in flight and I have to ask if you reinforced the oil door to make it more rigid. Typically I use the waste cut from the cowl for the oil access door opening and bond that material to the backside of the door. Doing so stiffens the door considerably. Even though Van's calls out two camloc wing nut type fasteners to secure the oil door, many builders seeking a cleaner look elect to install only one latch centered on the door typically a Hartwell or Camloc. The pressure on that door in flight is significant and some builders have reported it to actually bow outward in flight. To my mind, only one latch securing an unreinforced door is less than a satisfactory arrangement.

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Last edited by Rick6a : 08-24-2008 at 12:32 PM.
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  #3  
Old 08-24-2008, 01:54 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Default Two Hartwells....

I have two Hartwells mounted horizontally( aligned fore and aft), and they hold the door with no bowing or movement at all. I'd be nervous with just one as well.....
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  #4  
Old 08-24-2008, 01:59 PM
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RV7Guy RV7Guy is offline
 
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Location: Chandler, AZ
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Default It was the Pmags

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ice View Post
Has your oil door ever opened in flight? If so what did you do to correct the problem?

Mike Ice
RV-9
30 hours and still having fun.
Hey Mike,

It had to be the Pmags........
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  #5  
Old 08-24-2008, 02:59 PM
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godspeed godspeed is offline
 
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Default awww

Thats Just Mean..
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  #6  
Old 08-24-2008, 04:21 PM
Steve Steve is offline
 
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Location: Roy, Utah
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Default

I put a single curved rib under my oil door to keep it from flexing and opening in flight. Works great. I have a single spring latch on the door.
It's the low pressure on the topside of the door causing it to bend upwards in flight. I may still make a door from aluminum this winter, tho.
Steve
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  #7  
Old 08-24-2008, 06:32 PM
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mannanj mannanj is offline
 
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Location: Mtns of N.E. Georgia
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Default Oil Door

I used a piece of .032 aluminum from the forward baggage cutout to make the Oil Door on my -8. It is unreinforced with a hidden upper hinge and a single Hartwell Latch in the center of the bottom. No problems after 200+ hours and at least one trip to red line speed.

For you -8 builders this is an easy way to make the Oil Door. Just find a section of the cutout that matches the cowl then there's no need to bend it to the proper contour. (And no steeenkin fiberglass!!!!!!!!)
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  #8  
Old 08-24-2008, 06:48 PM
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vlittle vlittle is offline
 
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Default

Had my Camloc door open in flight. Redid the strike plate properly and now it's stong, like bull!

Vern
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  #9  
Old 08-24-2008, 08:09 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
I have two Hartwells mounted horizontally( aligned fore and aft), and they hold the door with no bowing or movement at all. I'd be nervous with just one as well.....
Ditto for me and even with the duel P-mags it has stayed closed.
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  #10  
Old 08-25-2008, 08:15 AM
Mike Ice Mike Ice is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sedro Wooley, WA
Posts: 147
Default oil door flying open

Rick,

I reinforced the .032 aluminum oil door with two strips of aluminum angle bent to follow the curve of the door. But I only used one of those Camlock fasteners, like the ones shown in your picture, located in the center of the door. Your right it is less than satisfactory. Funny how all those great ideas that worked so well in the shop start to vibrate and come undone when you start flying around.

Ironflight,

Yep, I am nervous with just the one and yesterday I taped it down while flying and will do so until I get busy and make a new one with two latches.

Darwin,

Hmm! I never thought it could be the Pmags but now that you mention it....

Mannanj,

I think the hartwell latches provide a little better latching mechanism. I wanted to use them but the Camlocks were available locally.

Vern,

It was your idea for the door I liked so tried to copy. I suspect I will have to go back and see what you did with the stronger strike plate.

Bill,

I think with the 2 Hartwells the door will never pop open.

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

Mike Ice
37.6 hours and loving it.
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