Lanyards for the Gas Caps?

[David Paule]

In addition to asking VAF, I had asked some local friends. One, a flight instructor who owns a Bonanza, said:

"Having left a cap off on a friends Bonanza, it doesn't move in the airflow. I'd use a light chain. "

So I figured, hey, if it's not bashing around, let's retain the sucker.

Dave

[ChiefPilot]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

Yea, you want to be sure that the chain doesn't break while the cap is pounding the *#%$& out of the top of your wing while you fly a short pattern to get back on the ground and latch it properly.......

Nice :-)

[deek]

Originally Posted by David Paule

In addition to asking VAF, I had asked some local friends. One, a flight instructor who owns a Bonanza, said:

"Having left a cap off on a friends Bonanza, it doesn't move in the airflow. I'd use a light chain. "

So I figured, hey, if it's not bashing around, let's retain the sucker.

Dave

I can tell you from first hand experience a tethered cap doesn't move around at all on the wing of a LongEZ. I use 1/16" SS control cable with Nicopress sleeves to tether the caps.

[RV-4]

I've got the same installation as Dave on my -4 and so does a friend and his came off at rotation and just stay there in the slipstream all the way to the ramp...

Cost him a few gallons of fuel though..

Bruno..

[Whitman]

Locking gas caps are the way to go. Like it was said earlier, you can't takeoff without the keys to the ignition.

[1flyer]

Years ago we had a guy at the airport with an Aerostar. After returning from a trip our line guys found two gas caps loose and hanging by their chains. Seems it was raining when he departed and didn't check his caps because he "didn't want to get wet".

[Sid Lambert]

I always put the gas cap in front of the tire as a chock when fueling. That way I can't go forward if I forget and they can't roll down the wing.

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by Whitman

Locking gas caps are the way to go. Like it was said earlier, you can't takeoff without the keys to the ignition.

I can I have a starter push button.

I also have locking caps but for three years of flying I never used that feature. I personally think it is unnecessary to chain the cap.

[LifeofReiley]

Chains for your gas caps? Not interested here. If your head is not in the game, you might want to consider hanging up flying. Really... Always a general pre-flight before each launch and after each and every full stop landing.

[David Paule]

Oh, a tether lets you take off with the caps off, so you can still do that if you want to.

All it does is let you reuse the caps afterwards.

Dave