To-Do-Item #13 Carbon Monoxide Detector
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 11:34 pm
13. Install a carbon monoxide detector. The paper stick-ons are neither durable nor sensitive enough for serious use. The best ones are specifically designed for aircraft use and are permanently mounted. See Aircraft Spruce, Chief, etc. for aircraft C.O. Detectors. (Residential/Home types are rarely sensitive enough for aircraft use, although Canadian types are generally more sensitive than those intended for the U.S. market. U.S. rules are designed to prevent false alarms, which may be too insensitive for value in an aircraft.)
Occasionally, we hear of the incapacitation of a pilot and/or co-pilot where the passenger has to land the plane. In this case, the daughter of the pilot was in the back of the plane and not affected by the carbon monoxide gas. She was not a pilot and did a superb job according to airport officials.
IDENTIFICATION
Make/Model: PA46 Description: PA-46 Malibu, Malibu Mirage
Date: 08/09/2004 DESCRIPTION
ACFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE PILOT BECAME INCAPACITATED, DAUGHTER CONTACTED BOSTON TRACON AND WITH THE HELP OF THE CONTROLLER, RETURNED TO AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, LACONIA, NH
Most of you know that I’ve become a believer in CO detectors since Traci and I found our cabin heat to be leaking. This was 15 hrs after annual, on our flight to the Lower 48, in late October 2002. The Chemical Spot Detector saved our lives. We had just bought a fresh card for the trip and Traci noticed the yellow dot had turned black. However I am not a fan of these card detectors for several reasons, mainly because they don’t start turning color until 100 ppm, so hopefully you’re lucky and will notice it (like we did) by 200-400 ppm. Of course the card must be fresh (they last 30 days) and not contaminated, the card can be contaminated by a list of different vapors like from cleaning chemicals, solvents, ammonia’s, whatever’s in the fine print. But like I said, the Chemical Spot Detector DID save our lives.
We bought a new heater and three risers. Our mechanic installed the new unit, signed it off, and we were all happy. However, by this time I’d bought my new CO detector. So on the next flight, the first 85-decibel alarm sounded 2 beeps at 25 ppm. Total surprise! Since then we’ve taken the heater off 3 times and tried everything we can think of to get the leaks to stop at the muffler/riser connections. Each time we would have thought the job was complete if not for our troubleshooting CO detector. At one point I had to prove the detector’s calibration to my mechanic. I took it to the fire station and the fire chief stuck his detector, along with mine, up to the exhaust of a fire truck. Tracked perfectly.
Obviously, I’ve brought this up again to bring the CO Detector topic to the TO-DO-LIST as George suggested. It would be nice to hear some updated feedback about specific CO detectors in this location. With this subject located in the To-do-list, I’ll give it a rest. Some of the detectors mentioned before are:
AIM, model 935, Hand Held, ~ $70.
Sporty's, CO Detector - $49, 9-volt battery.
AeroMedix, Senco Model One for $75
AeroMedix, CO Expert Model 2004, 9 volt for $100
I bought the CO Expert 2002 – Obviously I’m very happy with it, but I’ve never seen another aircraft detector. Except the Fire Chief’s which was located on his key chain. Now that’s the one to have. I’ve assumed it would probably be expensive but maybe I should check back and ask him about it. The only thing that might be improved on mine is, it’s about 6x4†in size and 10 oz. But the display updates every 10 seconds, so I can open/close windows, cabin heat/air, move the detector to different places, for instant troubleshooting. It runs on a 9-volt battery, which I remove in between use. I’m thinking this might prolong the life of the analyzer which is supposed to be 5 yrs. http://www.aeromedix.com - this is the site where I bought mine.
Also to view diff discussions on this topic, type Monitor into the Search Feature
Occasionally, we hear of the incapacitation of a pilot and/or co-pilot where the passenger has to land the plane. In this case, the daughter of the pilot was in the back of the plane and not affected by the carbon monoxide gas. She was not a pilot and did a superb job according to airport officials.
IDENTIFICATION
Make/Model: PA46 Description: PA-46 Malibu, Malibu Mirage
Date: 08/09/2004 DESCRIPTION
ACFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE PILOT BECAME INCAPACITATED, DAUGHTER CONTACTED BOSTON TRACON AND WITH THE HELP OF THE CONTROLLER, RETURNED TO AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, LACONIA, NH
Most of you know that I’ve become a believer in CO detectors since Traci and I found our cabin heat to be leaking. This was 15 hrs after annual, on our flight to the Lower 48, in late October 2002. The Chemical Spot Detector saved our lives. We had just bought a fresh card for the trip and Traci noticed the yellow dot had turned black. However I am not a fan of these card detectors for several reasons, mainly because they don’t start turning color until 100 ppm, so hopefully you’re lucky and will notice it (like we did) by 200-400 ppm. Of course the card must be fresh (they last 30 days) and not contaminated, the card can be contaminated by a list of different vapors like from cleaning chemicals, solvents, ammonia’s, whatever’s in the fine print. But like I said, the Chemical Spot Detector DID save our lives.
We bought a new heater and three risers. Our mechanic installed the new unit, signed it off, and we were all happy. However, by this time I’d bought my new CO detector. So on the next flight, the first 85-decibel alarm sounded 2 beeps at 25 ppm. Total surprise! Since then we’ve taken the heater off 3 times and tried everything we can think of to get the leaks to stop at the muffler/riser connections. Each time we would have thought the job was complete if not for our troubleshooting CO detector. At one point I had to prove the detector’s calibration to my mechanic. I took it to the fire station and the fire chief stuck his detector, along with mine, up to the exhaust of a fire truck. Tracked perfectly.
Obviously, I’ve brought this up again to bring the CO Detector topic to the TO-DO-LIST as George suggested. It would be nice to hear some updated feedback about specific CO detectors in this location. With this subject located in the To-do-list, I’ll give it a rest. Some of the detectors mentioned before are:
AIM, model 935, Hand Held, ~ $70.
Sporty's, CO Detector - $49, 9-volt battery.
AeroMedix, Senco Model One for $75
AeroMedix, CO Expert Model 2004, 9 volt for $100
I bought the CO Expert 2002 – Obviously I’m very happy with it, but I’ve never seen another aircraft detector. Except the Fire Chief’s which was located on his key chain. Now that’s the one to have. I’ve assumed it would probably be expensive but maybe I should check back and ask him about it. The only thing that might be improved on mine is, it’s about 6x4†in size and 10 oz. But the display updates every 10 seconds, so I can open/close windows, cabin heat/air, move the detector to different places, for instant troubleshooting. It runs on a 9-volt battery, which I remove in between use. I’m thinking this might prolong the life of the analyzer which is supposed to be 5 yrs. http://www.aeromedix.com - this is the site where I bought mine.
Also to view diff discussions on this topic, type Monitor into the Search Feature