Bill Palmer
Well Known Member
IN-FLIGHT SMOKE INCIDENT ? INTRODUCTION, DISCLAIMER, and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
INTRODUCTION:
On Feb. 8, 2017, an RV-8A experimental aircraft experienced smoke in the cockpit; in-flight. The following VAF posts describe this smoke incident in three parts: Incident, Technical, and Probable Cause with Recommendations. This incident report is being written in the spirit of promoting experimental aircraft safety. Specifically, the pilot/owner of the RV-8A wishes to share his experience with the experimental aircraft community so that we can all learn some valuable safety lessons and improve flight safety. Also, this incident report supports, expands, and supplements a recent VAF thread entitled ?Overvoltage required for EarthX battery? initiated by ?EarthX Lithium? (Kathy Nicoson) referring to this incident.
The authors, including the pilot, have done their best to write this report as accurately as possible, but we have the following disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER:
This report has not been written or compiled by professional accident/incident investigators and has not been reviewed, checked, endorsed, or recognized by any government agency (FAA, NTSB, etc.). This report is simply an attempt to state facts as accurately as possible in relation to this incident. The data, conclusions, and opinions offered in this report are solely those of the authors alone and should not be regarded as comprehensive, definitive, or precisely accurate.
This report is for consideration by the experimental aircraft community as they design, build, and fly their experimental aircraft. The authors are not responsible for any report omissions or inaccuracies or actions taken as a result of this report. Actions, if taken, are the individual responsibility of each individual reader who must determine his or her own conclusions and risk decisions. In other words, any liability is the reader?s alone; not the authors?.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of EarthX, Inc. (including Kathy Nicoson, Global Sales Director and Reg Nicoson, Chief Technology Officer) in the development of this report. EarthX provided us with battery inspection results, data analysis, and technical data which greatly helped us understand what occurred during this incident. We must emphasize how fortunate the experimental aircraft community is to have a great company such as EarthX supporting us, communicating with us, educating us, and supplying us with the latest in battery technology . . . THANKS, EarthX.
PLEASE NOTE: It is not the intention of the authors, including the incident pilot, to respond to questions, corrections, opinions, or suggestions about this incident or provide additional information. What you read here is all we have to offer for your consideration. Please review this incident report in the spirit of experimental aircraft safety and draw your own individual conclusions. THANK YOU.
INTRODUCTION:
On Feb. 8, 2017, an RV-8A experimental aircraft experienced smoke in the cockpit; in-flight. The following VAF posts describe this smoke incident in three parts: Incident, Technical, and Probable Cause with Recommendations. This incident report is being written in the spirit of promoting experimental aircraft safety. Specifically, the pilot/owner of the RV-8A wishes to share his experience with the experimental aircraft community so that we can all learn some valuable safety lessons and improve flight safety. Also, this incident report supports, expands, and supplements a recent VAF thread entitled ?Overvoltage required for EarthX battery? initiated by ?EarthX Lithium? (Kathy Nicoson) referring to this incident.
The authors, including the pilot, have done their best to write this report as accurately as possible, but we have the following disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER:
This report has not been written or compiled by professional accident/incident investigators and has not been reviewed, checked, endorsed, or recognized by any government agency (FAA, NTSB, etc.). This report is simply an attempt to state facts as accurately as possible in relation to this incident. The data, conclusions, and opinions offered in this report are solely those of the authors alone and should not be regarded as comprehensive, definitive, or precisely accurate.
This report is for consideration by the experimental aircraft community as they design, build, and fly their experimental aircraft. The authors are not responsible for any report omissions or inaccuracies or actions taken as a result of this report. Actions, if taken, are the individual responsibility of each individual reader who must determine his or her own conclusions and risk decisions. In other words, any liability is the reader?s alone; not the authors?.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of EarthX, Inc. (including Kathy Nicoson, Global Sales Director and Reg Nicoson, Chief Technology Officer) in the development of this report. EarthX provided us with battery inspection results, data analysis, and technical data which greatly helped us understand what occurred during this incident. We must emphasize how fortunate the experimental aircraft community is to have a great company such as EarthX supporting us, communicating with us, educating us, and supplying us with the latest in battery technology . . . THANKS, EarthX.
PLEASE NOTE: It is not the intention of the authors, including the incident pilot, to respond to questions, corrections, opinions, or suggestions about this incident or provide additional information. What you read here is all we have to offer for your consideration. Please review this incident report in the spirit of experimental aircraft safety and draw your own individual conclusions. THANK YOU.