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Door Latches - Something to Check

K

Kyle Boatright

Well Known Member
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In light of the RV-10 crash in California where there may have been an open door, I performed an inspection of my door latching mechanism. I found something that surprised me and might be worthwhile for all you RV-10 folks to check.

The left rear latching pin was loose - it had backed off several turns from its seated/secured position. Presumably, it could have backed off even more and possibly fallen off, leading to a door popping open. I'll re-locktite and secure it one day this week.

I have the Planearound center latch that probably would have prevented a door loss, but I was definitely spooked by the possibility of one of the latching pins not functioning as designed.

This is a 10 second inspection on each door, so the next time you go flying, might as well check.
 
Kyle Boatright said:
In light of the RV-10 crash in California where there may have been an open door, I performed an inspection of my door latching mechanism. I found something that surprised me and might be worthwhile for all you RV-10 folks to check.

The left rear latching pin was loose - it had backed off several turns from its seated/secured position. Presumably, it could have backed off even more and possibly fallen off, leading to a door popping open. I'll re-locktite and secure it one day this week.

I have the Planearound center latch that probably would have prevented a door loss, but I was definitely spooked by the possibility of one of the latching pins not functioning as designed.

This is a 10 second inspection on each door, so the next time you go flying, might as well check.
Click to expand...
in addition, check the roll pin that holds the latch handle. During a pre flight, I noticed the roll pin was backed out @halfway. I took some .020 safety wire and safety wired through the roll pin and around the boss, and tucked it in. There is room wo affecting the latch operation.
 
I did not care for the design of Vans door latch indicators-------using power continuously to turn a light off? Also, no simple way to make sure the system is working so you can check it. Is a non lit light an indication of a closed door, or a failure in the system?

I made up a relay less circuit with a "Push to Test" button, and had that in my POH as pre start and pre takeoff checks. Still used the magnet in the door latch setup, just wired it differently and had a green light to show all was well with the door latches. No relays and no continuous power in the circuit.
 
Mike S said:
I did not care for the design of Vans door latch indicators-------using power continuously to turn a light off? Also, no simple way to make sure the system is working so you can check it. Is a non lit light an indication of a closed door, or a failure in the system?

I made up a relay less circuit with a "Push to Test" button, and had that in my POH as pre start and pre takeoff checks. Still used the magnet in the door latch setup, just wired it differently and had a green light to show all was well with the door latches. No relays and no continuous power in the circuit.
Click to expand...
I just use a contact input to the SkyView display (as in I do not use the Van’s system). All four reed switches are wired in series so that if any one is not making contact the SkyView door display stays red.

Carl
 
Carl Froehlich said:
I just use a contact input to the SkyView display (as in I do not use the Van’s system). All four reed switches are wired in series so that if any one is not making contact the SkyView door display stays red.

Carl
Click to expand...
Same with the Garmin G3x. All 4 reed switches and a baggage door switch wired in series, connected to an active low discrete input. DOORS warning stays illuminated until an active low is seen by the G3X.
 
rocketman1988 said:
Same with the Garmin G3x. All 4 reed switches and a baggage door switch wired in series, connected to an active low discrete input. DOORS warning stays illuminated until an active low is seen by the G3X.
Click to expand...
Am I the only one that actually looks? My run up check list has ‘doors latched’; I squirm around in my seat to physically see the fore and aft bottom of each door, and note that it is really closed. The red idiot lights are a backup in case I screw up with the visual inspection.
It is an interesting human factors question, though. What is more likely to grab a pilot’s attention as he taxis onto the runway: a lit red light, or an unlit green light?
 
I don’t think there’s any one size fits all approach to this.
There are many different warning setups and center latches (or lack of). So everyone will have a different level of comfort with their door security.
I have the plane around and a Garmin CAS alert and have determined that it is physically impossible for the door to rack such that the front pin is engaged but the rear pin is not engaged.
My visual check is verification that the door is closed at the front and that the roll pin at the handle is in the slot. (Ie locked)
It’s possible for all pins to be engaged in the door frames and reed switches closed yet the pin hangs.
I also checked my pins for security after Kyle’s post and added it to my annual CI list. Still tight thankfully.
 
Mike S said:
I did not care for the design of Vans door latch indicators-------using power continuously to turn a light off? Also, no simple way to make sure the system is working so you can check it. Is a non lit light an indication of a closed door, or a failure in the system?

I made up a relay less circuit with a "Push to Test" button, and had that in my POH as pre start and pre takeoff checks. Still used the magnet in the door latch setup, just wired it differently and had a green light to show all was well with the door latches. No relays and no continuous power in the circuit.
Click to expand...
The system was purposely designed so that it minimizes ever falsely indicating that the door was closed if a portion of the system failed.
 
BobTurner said:
Am I the only one that actually looks? My run up check list has ‘doors latched’; I squirm around in my seat to physically see the fore and aft bottom of each door, and note that it is really closed. The red idiot lights are a backup in case I screw up with the visual inspection.
It is an interesting human factors question, though. What is more likely to grab a pilot’s attention as he taxis onto the runway: a lit red light, or an unlit green light?
Click to expand...
No you are not the only one; I have "Doors closed and locked" in my check list and I physically look at the lever and push on the doors to make sure that all 4 pins are engaged. It only takes a second to check them.
-Marc
 
For me, it’s on the checklist, no doors light on the EFIS, and I physically push on the back corners of the doors…
 
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