Brief Description: Oil Door Distortion - Reinforcemt
I used the fiberglass door that came in the FWF kit and fitted it with Camlok button latches in both corners and the "Hidden Hinge". I've heard stories that these FG doors need stiffeners to keep them from distorting. I had not experienced any problems with the door until I removed the cowl exit louvers this fall. On the first flight after removing the louvers, I noticed the oil door was "lifting" in a bowing manner, off the cowl. In fact, at the end of the flight, it forshortened the door enough that it unlatched and opened in flight!
It appears that removing the cowl exit louvers and installing the plugs, increased the backpressure inside the cowl enough to cause the oil door to distort. So, I removed the door, sanded the paint off the back side and fashioned 3 foam ribs using PVC foam.
