Sport Pilot Talk

My Ameri-King AK-451 transponder seemed to have switched itself on in the hangar today!
I'm phoned the tower and asked if they received the ELT signal. They said no.
Possibly it was displaying an error code... but it really seemed to be "ON".
It is very weird as the switches are very well protected from inadvertent activation.
Can a ELT signal transmit through a metal hangar?

Probably not. Especially if it is grounded, the hangar makes a good Faraday cage. Remember, if it really was on, to check (or maybe replace) the batteries.

Could you hear it on 121.5?

BTW, mine got new batteries just yesterday. Handy that they're standard "D" cells, albeit a specific Duracell part # which Home Depot had.

In the course I took in order to do my own annuals, we covered operational ELT tests, which involve smacking it pretty hard in the direction of travel indicated on it to verify activation. Wondering if everyone does that as part of the annual?

I had one trigger on in flight about 20 years ago, coming home from Dayton Hamvention with a heavy 17" VGA monitor in the baggage compartment. It shifted in flight and hit the switch. I heard a signal on 121.5, told ATC, they asked me to advise losing the signal. When it never got weaker, i figured it out, confessed to ATC, and continued home with it blaring. Replaced the batteries immediately after that flight (and invested in a baggage net).

As an aside, when I had my Sky Arrow converted to Experimental, the DAR caught a discrepancy - I had no remote panel installed for my AmerKing ELT, which is located under the pilot's seat - reachable but out of view.

Sure enough, the Installation manual makes clear that the remote panel is NOT optional, and is required per the STC. My dealer had a spare remote, I had an empty spot in the panel, and installation was relatively straightforward.

FastEddieB wrote: Sure enough, the Installation manual makes clear that the remote panel is NOT optional, and is required per the STC.

Certified mechanics please weigh in but an STC is for a type certified aircraft and an S-LSA is not type certified. ASTM and/or your manufacturer would need to define the need for the remote panel. Right?

BTW -- I'm not saying one shouldn't have a remote panel. Just that an STC is not applicable.

Since Eddie's is an ELSA, the installation of a remote panel would be entirely optional. Still a good idea, though

drseti wrote:Since Eddie's is an ELSA, the installation of a remote panel would be entirely optional. Still a good idea, though

That is not right. The requirement for having a ELT is under CFR 91.207, and it requires that installations after June 21, 1995 meet TSO C-91a or later TSO.
The TSO requires that there should be a remote switch/indicator in plain view of the pilot per the TSO.

I also find that many mechanics take care of ELT battery replacement, but often forget to take care of the remote battery replacement. In most cases it is 8 years for a lithium battery and 3 for a alkaline battery.

dstclair wrote:

FastEddieB wrote: Sure enough, the Installation manual makes clear that the remote panel is NOT optional, and is required per the STC.

Certified mechanics please weigh in but an STC is for a type certified aircraft and an S-LSA is not type certified. ASTM and/or your manufacturer would need to define the need for the remote panel. Right?

BTW -- I'm not saying one shouldn't have a remote panel. Just that an STC is not applicable.

You are correct sir.

As for the ELT going off I had a call one Thanksgiving evening about a ELT going off. It was a 121.5 ELT. The airplane was in a metal hangar, and the signal had been picked up by satellite. If your 406 ELT was going off, and it had been received by the satellite, you would have gotten a call. That is assuming you have it registered like you are required to do.