Announcement

**Yellow Duck** · 01-11-2006, 09:14

Re: Fire Awareness

Have carried one for many years. After, unfortuantly, an aircraft hit the wires on take off. The pilot died and no means of putting the fire out. From then on I carry one. On the floor pass.side against the seat.

**Howard Wilson** · 01-11-2006, 09:17

Re: Fire Awareness

What do they say? The only time you can have too much fuel......is when you're on fire!

Ask your IA about putting in new carpet! Just bought an old '56 straight tail 172 (sorry Kevin, it was about a week before yours came up), And the IA is saying he's going to want to see the fire certification for the new carpet come next annual!! He's citing 23.853. My T doesn't have carpet. Wonder about replacing the canvas?

**flylo** · 01-11-2006, 09:43

Re: Fire Awareness

My '38 came from the factory with a small brass fire ext,it's still in it.I need to put a bigger one somewhere.

**Dano"T"** · 01-11-2006, 10:23

Re: Fire Awareness

I just called Wag Aero and ordered THIS little beauty. I'll mount it on the floor just like Lee did! I feel better already

**VictorBravo** · 01-11-2006, 10:27

Re: Fire Awareness

Originally posted by Howard Wilson

And the IA is saying he's going to want to see the fire certification for the new carpet come next annual!! He's citing 23.853. My T doesn't have carpet. Wonder about replacing the canvas?

My understanding is that you do not have to have certified fire resistant materials unless the aircraft is being operated commercially. If this is not true, I'd be glad to hear about it since my new feather-lite glareshield is made from thin foam and clothing fabric....

If your IA is digging in his heels, you can buy some stuff from Aircraft Spruce that is a spray on treatment, which makes ordinary carpet into fire-resistant carpet per 25.853... so you can spray on this stuff in the presence of your IA and he will be happy...and you don't have to rip out the carpet.

**hangarb7** · 01-11-2006, 10:53

Re: Fire Awareness

DanoT,

Thanks for the tip. I've always kept an extinguisher standing on the ramp outside the hangar during start up but one in the cockpit makes sense. I'm putting together an order for Wag-Aero as we speak so I think I'll add one of those extinguishers to the mix...

Thanks again,

Jack D.

**N96337** · 01-11-2006, 11:52

Re: Fire Awareness

Victor Bravo is exactly right... your old 172 wasn't certified under part 23, so unless you're operating for hire, you don't need to worry about it. Have your IA call and talk to the local FSDO if he doesn't believe that. I always figured that if I crashed and was on fire, I wasn't going to be worrying about whether the carpet was up to part 23 or not. However, approved material isn't that tough to come by anymore... most upholstery shops have the stats on their fabrics and foam and they meet current regs. But that doesn't help unless you're recovering or reupholstering. We did an annual on a "P" Navajo one time and used the spray, and it got him by, so the stuff does work.
I always install a blended Halon extinguisher within reach of the pilot when they are belted in... it wont do ya much good if you can't reach it easily when you need it!
John H.

**Dick Smith** · 01-11-2006, 12:07

Re: extinguisher location

Years ago, out in Iliamna, Ak., a Helio Courier landed on Slopbucket Lake, with a load of plywood. The 4 X 8 sheets had been cut into rectangles that fit on the floor, in a stack, behind the pilot's seat. The fire extinguisher was mounted within reach of the pilot, but was blocked from his reach, by the load. The whole thing burned to a pile about the size of a wash tub. The fire was in wiring under the panel...probably could have been dealt with, if the extinguisher had been readily accessible. Just a thought. Dick

**N96337** · 01-11-2006, 12:33

Re: Fire Awareness

Dick, is that the same one that we always called "the bucket" right at the end of "roadhouse" strip where all the lodges are? I worked for Rainbow King when Ray Losche owned it, and we kept our planes out at what he called "Eastwind" lake..just North of the lodges and East of the airport, but we came in and usually loaded on the outside of the dike at the end of town.
John H.

**Dick Smith** · 01-11-2006, 13:14

Re: Fire Awareness

John, yes, that's the same lake. My wife and I operated Iliaska Lodge, out on The Point, in '70, '71 & '72. There have been a lot of changes around there since you were there! But, "East Wind" still blows! It felt like the ground was shaking at times when the wind came down the lake. I've had to crawl on the ground, against the wind, when conditions were icey! Many nights, had guys wake me up and ask to be taken up to the the main field to check a plane...expecially when it belonged to someone else! Dick

**high time cub** · 01-11-2006, 13:31

Re: Fire Awareness

A local pilot was on a photo flight when the cockpit began to fill with "smoke". Only after making an emergency landing on the interstate, was he aware that the photographer had accidentally set off the under seat fire extinguisher!

**Len Petterson** · 01-11-2006, 17:51

Re: Fire Awareness

If you put a dry powder fire extinglisher on an aircraft make shure it is a class BC, NOT a ABC
The chemical making it a ABC is VERY corrosive to aluminium and almost impossible to remove. This is what was told resently.
I did have an 2 Lbs ABC now changed to a 2 Lbs BC
Canadian air reg says I have to have 2 LBS fire extinglisher in the plane.
I also carrying a 5 LBS in the back of the car sence we did test flying with a friends aircraft and for emergency use in general. Maybe being a former volonter firefigther makes you think differently.
Best to fix any gas leaks.

Len Petterson

**gmackay** · 01-11-2006, 18:57

Re: Fire Awareness

Also, as someone mentioned, make sure it is secured properly. Heard of one coming loose and jaming the controls. Don't know the details, but something to think about.

**Howard Wilson** · 01-11-2006, 19:06

Re: Fire Awareness

Originally posted by VictorBravo

My understanding is that you do not have to have certified fire resistant materials unless the aircraft is being operated commercially. If this is not true, I'd be glad to hear about it since my new feather-lite glareshield is made from thin foam and clothing fabric....

Bill, That's what I was thinking, But? check out this link. I have been talking with Plane Plastics and they say they have the certification papers so looks like it may be ok in this case. Kind of funny that if you put in the original materials you still are meeting the spec but they would probably burn like crazy.
www.avweb.com/news/maint/182839-1.html still trying to figure out attachments

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