Fire extinguishers in permit aircraft
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 650
Likes: 45
From: Canada
It is a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in reach of the pilot's seated position in any aircraft. You may arrive to earth badly, and there may be a fire. Even a small fire is a hazard if you cannot get yourself out, and you cannot get the fire out. Even a small extinguisher might buy you the time you need to escape.
My friend landed a C206 floatplane with a small engine fire. It was a maintenance test flight, no fire extinguisher yet. It burned, and was a write off - prompt use of an extinguisher once on the water might have saved it. a few years later, his boss, also my friend, was a crash victim. A very small post crash fire went unextinguished for too long - he did not survive, partly because of the fire.
Carry a fire extinguisher, and as with anything in the cabin, assure it is secured against crash forces.
My friend landed a C206 floatplane with a small engine fire. It was a maintenance test flight, no fire extinguisher yet. It burned, and was a write off - prompt use of an extinguisher once on the water might have saved it. a few years later, his boss, also my friend, was a crash victim. A very small post crash fire went unextinguished for too long - he did not survive, partly because of the fire.
Carry a fire extinguisher, and as with anything in the cabin, assure it is secured against crash forces.
Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 208
From: Toronto
In a glider the majority of the electrikery is directly above the pilot's knees.
The master switch should hopefully remove any energy from anything smouldering.
LiFePO batteries so far are not known to misbehave.
Even Halon is toxic after suppressing a fire (to say nothing of combustion products); so you do need prompt ventilation after using Halon in an enclosed space.
What scares me are gliders without either master switches or fuses for individual instruments. If there's smoke that can't be controlled by switching off the compromised box, the next recourse is the chute.
In my glider, even the gear warning has its own fuse.
All that said, the only glider I know lost to an electrical problem was in a trailer with a loose battery bouncing around and shorting.
The master switch should hopefully remove any energy from anything smouldering.
LiFePO batteries so far are not known to misbehave.
Even Halon is toxic after suppressing a fire (to say nothing of combustion products); so you do need prompt ventilation after using Halon in an enclosed space.
What scares me are gliders without either master switches or fuses for individual instruments. If there's smoke that can't be controlled by switching off the compromised box, the next recourse is the chute.
In my glider, even the gear warning has its own fuse.
All that said, the only glider I know lost to an electrical problem was in a trailer with a loose battery bouncing around and shorting.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Strathaven Airfield
Don't worry about an extinguisher - CARRY A SHARP KNIFE.
I well remember being trapped in a car for 30/40 mins (it was remote area) until the fire brigade arrived. The two front seat had shunted together so you couldn't access the release.
Have also seen someone suffocate when trapped upside down in their harness. (A bit like the way crucifiction works, after they break your legs).
The main reason we don't now need a fire crew at airfields used for ab initio training in the UK is that these crews have failed to save anyone for 60-odd years. Basically, you get out, or you are dead by the time they take you out.
Get a knife and be one of the ones who get out.
And always brief your passengers about where the knife is too.
I well remember being trapped in a car for 30/40 mins (it was remote area) until the fire brigade arrived. The two front seat had shunted together so you couldn't access the release.
Have also seen someone suffocate when trapped upside down in their harness. (A bit like the way crucifiction works, after they break your legs).
The main reason we don't now need a fire crew at airfields used for ab initio training in the UK is that these crews have failed to save anyone for 60-odd years. Basically, you get out, or you are dead by the time they take you out.
Get a knife and be one of the ones who get out.
And always brief your passengers about where the knife is too.
