-POSTING RULES The dangers include carbon monoxide from exhaust and smoke from an engine fire. The grommet takes care of protecting the cable from abrasion; the shield protects the grommet from fire. Three inexpensive parts are needed for the project: a small piece of stainless steel sheet, a silicone grommet, and a two-piece stainless steel firewall shield. Once the unit is installed, it clamps down onto the pass through and holds it securely while also sealing the hole. [ Placeholder content for popup link ] Not many people have chimed in. Both firewall shield halves are placed over the grommet and attached with stainless rivets or bolts. of fire protection. High quality. You have entered an incorrect email address! . . There are a variety of metal "eyeball" There are a variety of metal "eyeball" A stainless steel, two-piece firewall shield with a hole size just larger than the grommets inner diameter. Completed firewall protection hiding the hole that was cut for the large plug. Cp Tucson. We find that there are generally threefirewall pass-throughs for the wiring and control cables to the engine area. Most were fabricated with some attention paid to the physics My point is that you can relocate things as needed and appropriate for your installations. Omar is building a GlaStar in Portland, Oregon. as wires and perhaps small fluid lines for pressure instrumentation. A grommet (preferably silicone in composition for good heat durability) sized according to the wire cable that will be routed through it. As a result, engine fires often expand rapidly, and quickly melt grommets and other sealing materials. Its flexible and really seals well. Next, we need to cut this sheet in half through the center of the hole. If youre currently building, flyingor dreaming of building and flying onethis is the place for you! | metal bulkhead fittings require little further consideration. AN823 Elbow Flared Tube And Pipe Thread 45: AN822 Elbow Flared Tube And Pipe Thread 900, MS24694 Structural Machine Screws (Formerly AN509). airplanes, the FARs tell us that bulkhead feed through fittings of At Phoenix Composites, Inc. we treat the problem of firewall grommets somewhat different. Please note other excluded items on the same order may incur a freight charge. like every oil change. requiring a certain number of HOLES in the firewall. When properly positioned, the opening in the assembled shield should be just a bit bigger than the grommet opening so that there is no contact with the cable. of doing its job . You now have an inexpensive, professional looking firewall seal that can be adapted for any size hole and can be serviced in the future (i.e., disassembled if you ever need to remove that cable and plug someday). He is also the web editor for Kitplanes Magazine. Hundreds of thousands of single engine aircraft have been built in the past Getting that large plug into the cabin requires that we cut a rather large, sometimes irregular, opening in the firewall. Large plug for an engine computer that needs to be routed from the engine side of the firewall into the cabin. This leaves us with the "soft" lines such fed fire and folks in the cockpit who are doing their best to survive Here we see how a stainless weldment bolted to the firewall with steel requiring a certain number of HOLES in the firewall. airplanes, the FARs tell us that bulkhead feed through fittings of things aft of the firewall. It is important to have a strong and secure pass thru for wires and cables on the firewall in the event of a fire or accident. and power generation wiring that must run between engine compartment and cockpit thus I'm also interested in what people have done. Some of the modern electronic fuel-injected aircraft engines use cables with large plugs that need to be routed from the engine side of the firewall into the cabin, where they are connected to their control computer. For certified Where did you put your firewall pass through for wires, sensors wires etc and how big? We are then left with a hole that is now too big for the remaining cable attached to this plug. Our members can be found worldwide. Most of these products have been created when a need is identified and the right product simply isnt available. the experience. that is sealed with fire-stop when the flange is bolted into place. 99.99% of the time, all it does is keep a blast of cold air out of is a small manufacturing business dedicated to providing quality products to aircraft manufacturers, builders, restorers and owners. Midwest - West Chicago, IL as long as you don't cut holes in it. Penetrations of fuel and other fluid plumbing running through all UNSHIELDED 22GA WHITE WIRE M22759/16-22-9, UNSHIELDED 10GA WHITE WIRE M22759/16-10-9, AN816 Nipple - Flared Tube And Pipe Thread, Two Lug All Metal Anchor Nuts K1000 Full Size. Learn how your comment data is processed. It also final protects against all chaffing that may be present. After drilling a hole for the grommet, draw a line and cut the stainless steel sheet into two pieces. Every firewall-sheet of stainless steel (or composite Insert Pics. The parts are mounted to the forward side of the firewall. Most were fabricated with some attention paid to the physics Penetrations of fuel and other fluid plumbing running through all There are controls, fuel plumbing, instrumentation . If you need something and it isnt on here, please feel free to give us a call.Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; Unfortunately, He has built (and helped others build) over a dozen kit aircraft of all makes and models. Item qualifies for free ground shipping. ymmv. Pilotshop assumes no responsibility or liability for any issue or problem which may arise from any repair, modification or other work done from this knowledge base. material selected for it's fire resistance) is perfectly capable Periodic inspections will show whether or not there are issues of mechanical Copyright Glasair Aircraft Owners Association. camera app here Nev-er. For this months cover story on the updated Vans RV-14A, I not only got 2022 Kitplanes.com. Thin stainless sheet is not too hard to cut; a fine-tooth band saw or saber saw works fine. The parts can be installed with the cable in place in the grommet. A piece of stainless steel sheet sized a bit larger than the hole you want to cover. 100 years. integrity. This slows down penetration time and helps seal the firewall to increase the pilots time to get the airplane safely on the ground. This was not acceptable due to the restrictions on asbestos and the fact the it made for routing these components very difficult without putting sharp bends in them (not to mention the very ugly appearance it made). robustness . All rights reserved. These sheet halves can now be mounted to the forward side of the firewall surrounding the cable. P/M activities . steel or copper-alloy may be used with no concerns for compromising firewall Donate methods Commonly used for wire harness / ECU connection to penetrate firewall. Excellent materials and instructions. The last step is to add some high-temperature silicone caulk to the exit area of the cable so as to really make an airtight seal. whimsy . Please check the boxes for the options that you would like to add. 100 years. We are not affiliated with Glasair Aviation, LLC., but we maintain a great working relationship. compartment. On the Mite, there was one large hole in the middle of the firewall in which most of the wires, lines and engine controls passed through. Today's Posts In principle good avionics boxes will filter out any pickup, but I chose to use separate firewall holes for the alternator output, and for low level signals (EGT probes, etc). fittings available for easing the transition of throttle, prop, mixture and other relatively "soft" materials running between cockpit and engine . The Eyeball spherical metal grommet firewall fitting was developed to solve a problem we encountered while restoring a 1953 Mooney Mite. Hundreds of thousands of single engine aircraft have been built in the past Remember that the alternator wire carries a pretty large current and does have some ac ripple on it. . - Unfortunately, East - Peachtree City, GA, SAME DAY SHIPPING ON ORDERS PLACED BY 4 PM VIA UPS | 877-288-8077. The hole diameter should be large enough to accept the grommet we have chosen. . /* Must be below squarespace-headers */(function(){var e='ontouchstart'in window||navigator.msMaxTouchPoints;var t=document.documentElement;if(!e&&t){t.className=t.className.replace(/touch-styles/,'')}})(). I have been having a hard time moving from picassa to goggle photos. techniques. It is a private company, founded by an Aeronautical Engineer, pilot, and owner of several rare and antique aircraft. as long as you don't cut holes in it. While they may provide protection from abrasion, rubber grommets do NOT meet the requirement for fire safety outlined in FAR 23-1191 and should NOT be used on a firewall. You're question is very timely, I was about to ask the same thing. Some items are all listed and available, we will continue to add on more items weekly. A Firewall Passthrough, custom made for application. Some builders add this caulk to the area between the stainless metal plate and firewall for more protection against fumes leakage. Note generous flange area outside the tube to flange interface integrity. I heard Jesters coarse voice and felt the impact of each syllable, You. The grommet needs a small cut so that it can also be installed onto the cable and then inserted into the hole of the stainless steel sheet. Instead of using rubber grommets in the fiberglass firewall we wait until the firewall fire barrier is installed and then drill the typical hole size of 1 all the way through. Leave all boxes unchecked for unit only. The method shown in these pictures allows any size breach in the firewall to be reduced to the desired small opening that preserves the firewalls protection from fire and fumes. hardware provides the structural component of a transition for wires and Redesigned Airstreak from Alaskan Bushwheels. Email: Click Here Thanks, can other's not see my image? The "firewall" on an airplane wasn't named with any sense of Many people use rubber grommets to protect the components passing through the firewall. These are dimpled to provide space for the grommet, and the exact hole size is obtained by reaming the closest smaller size hole available. I've been stalling drilling mine, but I'm about finished with the avionics and will be riveting my panel substructure in soon and would rather install the passthrough prior. . Keep VAF Builders are advised that they are responsible for their own construction methods and should check with the factory if any of the information included on this website differs from the factory manuals. Click here to contact Bob at AeroElectric Connection. Make sure you share the photo first and then change your link. and power generation wiring that must run between engine compartment and cockpit thus The Glasair Aircraft Owners Association has not checked the accuracy or safety of any information included on these web pages and any users of this information do so completely at their own risk. The two piece metal ball becomes the grommet that allows the builder or manufacturer to pass anything through the firewall and then reseals the hole which protects the cockpit from fumes and fire. fittings available for easing the transition of throttle, prop, mixture and There are controls, fuel plumbing, instrumentation of fire protection. These inexpensive shields are available from your favorite aircraft supply store. it's necessary for things forward of the firewall to be in communication with as wires and perhaps small fluid lines for pressure instrumentation. The process starts by drilling an appropriate sized hole in the center of our stainless steel sheet. cowl flap controls at odd angles. steel or copper-alloy may be used with no concerns for compromising firewall to donate fast. Any product eligibility information provided here is based on general application guides and we recommend always referring to your specific aircraft parts manual, the parts manufacturer or consulting with a qualified mechanic. WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin. metal bulkhead fittings require little further consideration. . Disclaimer: This website contains information submitted by our members about building their airplanes. This leaves us with the "soft" lines such great threat as long as you do reasonably complete inspections during normal The original Eyeball designs had an aluminum ball which is acceptable in the homebuilt industry and now steel Eyeballs have been developed to satisfy the requirements for certified aircraft. But on rare occasions, it is expected to stand between a fuel The Glasair Aircraft Owners Association is the one must-join association for Glasair, GlaStar, Sportsman 2+2, Merlin, and OMF Symphony builders, owners, pilots, and enthusiasts. Also, the integrity of the firewall from the standpoint of shielding an engine fire should not be compromised by the process of creating these holes. Omar Filipovic is president of the Glasair Aircraft Owners Association as well as the chief tinkerer and content editor for this website. The store is currently under construction at this time. Viking Aircraft Engines, 735 Air Park Road C3, Edgewater, FL, 32132, United States. Free shipping must be selected in cart for promotion to apply. Grommet and stainless steel sheet after cutting. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Every firewall-sheet of stainless steel (or composite As the founder of HomebuiltHELP.com, Jon Croke has produced instructional videos for Experimental aircraft builders for over 10 years. Thus the creation of the Eyeball firewall fitting came to be. it's necessary for things forward of the firewall to be in communication with However, I am using sealed CPCs for my passthrough and the extended sleeve (about 3 inches) would have interfered with the motor mount, so I covered the existing holes with riveted stainless steel covers and relocated my openings. Given that fires Use stainless rivets or bolts as desired. The three components needed for this project are shown here: The beauty of this method is that we can install all three components after the cable is routed through the large opening of the firewall. We then install an aluminum sleeve that closes out the entire pass through and it has a rolled edge so no chafing occurs later. Advanced Aero G2 and G3 Heritage Kits Now Available, Glasair Super II-S Prototype Flight Report, Building a GlaStarPresentation by Dave Prizio, GlaStar Nose Fork Modification for 5.00 x 5 Wheel and Tire, WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin. The ball also swivels up to 50 degrees allowing the lines or controls to pass through the firewall in a much larger radius reducing undo stress on them. The firewall between the engine compartment and the cockpit is a critical component of the structure as fire safety is always a major concern. . Doubletee Products, LLC. Each time we penetrate our aircrafts firewallfor example, when we make a hole for a control or electric cablewe must be mindful to properly seal the breach to keep fumes from entering the aircraft cabin. Going Great kit. material selected for it's fire resistance) is perfectly capable cowl flap controls at odd angles. Builders can certainly experiment with thinner material and alternative joining are VERY rare, the failure of an experimental fitting doesn't represent a Toll Free: 1-877-288-8077 Kitplanes.com and the Kitplanes logo are protected properties under international copyright law. A thickness of .030-inch or a bit thinner is suitable. not strong enough, they'll simply come apart. things aft of the firewall. . Hand shears work but do not leave a super nice edge. Second one Ive used. The hole was then sealed with a mixture of zinc putty and asbestos. Works great, give it a try, I think you will like the results. of doing its job . Submitted byDace Kirk, Phoenix Composites, Mesa Arizona. the cockpit. For certified Fax: 1-951-372-9213, West - Corona, CA Fires inside the cowling are extremely bad due to the presence of fuel, oil, and a high volume of forced airflow. Take your time! Some methods they employ may differ from the factory instructions. Once the wiring and control cables are all finally rigged, then we inject 3M Fire Barrier caulk to absolutely seal out all gases and heat from the cockpit area. -Advertise in here! Please note, Pilotshop's personnel are not certified aircraft mechanics and can only provide general support and ideas, which should not be relied upon or implemented in lieu of consulting an A&P or other qualified technician. I did buy two of the 1" SS pass threws, I was wondering if you just enlarge the two holes in the image below to be 1" or are these earmarked for something else, I looked through the plans and can't really see that these are for anything else: I can't see your image but if that is the roughly thumb-sized holes left and right on the firewall, that is indeed what they are intended for. The worst thing that happens is that you have to build a more robust transition fitting and replace the broken one. Since all of these components are made of stainless steel, you are making the best effort to maintain the fire rating of your firewall. All rights reserved worldwide. Jon is a private pilot and currently owns and flies a Zenith Cruzer. Point your