Water leaks and avionics damage with a tipup canopy

[eddieseve]

Hi Guys,

I have an RV7 tip-up and 3 weeks ago my ICOM-A210 stopped working.

I sent if off to ICOM for a service and the response was that it was toast and would cost nearly as much as a new radio to repair.

It seems that it failed due to water ingress over a long period of time as there was corrosion build up evident on the internal components and boards.

So for any new builders out there just about to start test flying, please make sure you install a weather shield of some sort to protect you expensive avionics.

In my installation my radio is the only component in my panel that penetrates both the instrument panel and the second sub-panel.

Ironically where I placed the radio located it directly under the right hand hinge for the tip-up. This allowed a small amount of water to drip onto the radio tray and then enter the radio via the camloc that secures it into the tray.

I had previously checked the canopy in the closed position for leaks with a hose while on the ground, but obviously flying in light rain at 150-160 knots is different.

So the message is do more than you think is necessary to seal things up, otherwise it will cost you lots of money down the track.

Cheers

[Brantel]

No way..these never leak. Just ask Van's

The stock solution is not only leaks, it is guaranteed to leak.

My last go at sealing it up seems to be working. Eliminated the gaps between the three pieces of sheet metal angle that the stock seal sits on, threw out the stock seal and put on an edge gripping bulb seal and then sealed that to the sub-panel and the top skin with urethane sealant. Filled the entire area with sealant in the hinge slot above where the hinges go since the hinges do not come up that high in normal use. Basically my edge gripping bulb seal is glued with urethane sealant to the top front skin, the sub-panel and the plastic hinge blocks and the void is filled above where the hinges go. It forms sort of a gutter in front of the bulb.

I would post a pic but it is difficult to see any of this with the canopy mounted.

I got some hints from Rzbill when he came to our flyin last year. I also made sure I did not mount any radio gear under the hinge points with my new panel upgrade.

[ChiefPilot]

Hmmm. I sat in the rain for five minutes last week after I landed and shutdown specifically to check for leaks. After five minutes, there was zero, nothing, nada, zip, zilch, etc. leaks in the cabin. I can't see how water could possibly get to the avionics with a sl....

...err, umm, nevermind...

[Mel]

Been flying mine for over 20 years. No problems yet!

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by ChiefPilot

Hmmm. I sat in the rain for five minutes last week after I landed and shutdown specifically to check for leaks. After five minutes, there was zero, nothing, nada, zip, zilch, etc. leaks in the cabin. I can't see how water could possibly get to the avionics with a sl....

...err, umm, nevermind...

............

[rzbill]

Originally Posted by Brantel

No way..these never leak. Just ask Van's

The stock solution is not only leaks, it is guaranteed to leak.

My last go at sealing it up seems to be working. Eliminated the gaps between the three pieces of sheet metal angle that the stock seal sits on, threw out the stock seal and put on an edge gripping bulb seal and then sealed that to the sub-panel and the top skin with urethane sealant. Filled the entire area with sealant in the hinge slot above where the hinges go since the hinges do not come up that high in normal use. Basically my edge gripping bulb seal is glued with urethane sealant to the top front skin, the sub-panel and the plastic hinge blocks and the void is filled above where the hinges go. It forms sort of a gutter in front of the bulb.

I would post a pic but it is difficult to see any of this with the canopy mounted.

I got some hints from Rzbill when he came to our flyin last year. I also made sure I did not mount any radio gear under the hinge points with my new panel upgrade.

Thanks for the mention. It sounds like you have passed and improved on my setup. I want to come see what you have done. I was in heavy rain IMC a few weeks ago and developed a leak. Scary. Bailed. Did a 180 and landed. It's way better than it was, but still not good enough.

[Mike Smith]

My tip-up doesn't leak in the rain, I occasionally fly in light rain showers. The trick is raising the canopy when it is wet, because the water will roll down the canopy as it rises up, then hit the area just aft of the firewall, then run into the instrument panel.

I carry a full size towel and have it ready to catch the water when I open the canopy. I push it into the opening area as I push the canopy up. If I'm opening it from the outside, and it's wet, I have another towel to lay on the forward portion of the canopy to catch (soak up) the water as it runs off the canopy.

It's a low tech solution, but I preflight and postflight in the rain so seldom that it really isn't a big deal. I love the visibility of the tip-up, so this solution works for me : )

[eddieseve]

Hey Brian,

If at some point you do manage to snap some pic's I would love to see them just to make sure that I have all my bases covered as best as I can.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Brantel

No way..these never leak. Just ask Van's

The stock solution is not only leaks, it is guaranteed to leak.

My last go at sealing it up seems to be working. Eliminated the gaps between the three pieces of sheet metal angle that the stock seal sits on, threw out the stock seal and put on an edge gripping bulb seal and then sealed that to the sub-panel and the top skin with urethane sealant. Filled the entire area with sealant in the hinge slot above where the hinges go since the hinges do not come up that high in normal use. Basically my edge gripping bulb seal is glued with urethane sealant to the top front skin, the sub-panel and the plastic hinge blocks and the void is filled above where the hinges go. It forms sort of a gutter in front of the bulb.

I would post a pic but it is difficult to see any of this with the canopy mounted.

I got some hints from Rzbill when he came to our flyin last year. I also made sure I did not mount any radio gear under the hinge points with my new panel upgrade.

[eddieseve]

Hi Mike,

Perhaps your correct and water got in when I opened the canopy, who knows, bottom line, you need to be very careful.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Mike Smith

My tip-up doesn't leak in the rain, I occasionally fly in light rain showers. The trick is raising the canopy when it is wet, because the water will roll down the canopy as it rises up, then hit the area just aft of the firewall, then run into the instrument panel.

I carry a full size towel and have it ready to catch the water when I open the canopy. I push it into the opening area as I push the canopy up. If I'm opening it from the outside, and it's wet, I have another towel to lay on the forward portion of the canopy to catch (soak up) the water as it runs off the canopy.

It's a low tech solution, but I preflight and postflight in the rain so seldom that it really isn't a big deal. I love the visibility of the tip-up, so this solution works for me : )

[Fisherman]

Does anybody have any photographs of their mods to stop the water reaching the instruments please?