Engine PreHeater In The Plane

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I am a member of a 3-way partnership in a Cessna 206. We have just
purchased a SureFire preheater. The source is available at:

http://www.crystal-airways.com/surestart/surefire.asp

It uses small camping style propane bottles which are readily available
at Wal-mart or other retailers. They do not actually fit in the
pre-heater storage box, so have to be carried separately.

We have belted the preheater into one of the rear seats as we felt this
would be more secure. The propane bottles have been placed in the rear
baggage compartment.

One of my partners is concerned that carrying either flammable bottles
or even just the preheater in the plane might cause insurance issues if
there were ever an incident.

Has anyone had any experience with these setups? Do you know the FARs
for carrying a preheater? What about the fuel?

Thanks.

[George Patterson]

" wrote:
>
> I am a member of a 3-way partnership in a Cessna 206. We have just
> purchased a SureFire preheater.

I have something similar. Mine's battery powered.

> We have belted the preheater into one of the rear seats as we felt this
> would be more secure. The propane bottles have been placed in the rear
> baggage compartment.

I stored mine, bottles and all, in my luggage compartment when I had to carry
it.

> One of my partners is concerned that carrying either flammable bottles
> or even just the preheater in the plane might cause insurance issues if
> there were ever an incident.

Read your policy. Mine did not contain any clause forbidding this practice.

> Has anyone had any experience with these setups? Do you know the FARs
> for carrying a preheater? What about the fuel?

The FARs contain nothing about carrying pre-heaters. There are prohibitions on
carrying flammables in the cabin, but they apply only to part 121 aircraft.

This topic was hashed out last year just before Oshkosh, so you might Google for
that discussion. Thousands of people carry propane stoves for camping, and that
kicked off that thread.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[George Patterson]

" wrote:
>
> We have belted the preheater into one of the rear seats as we felt this
> would be more secure. The propane bottles have been placed in the rear
> baggage compartment.

By the way. When you park the plane and expect to use the heater the next time
you fire it up, take the bottles with you so that they will be warm when you
need them. The bottles cool off in use due to the pressure drop as the gas is
released. If the bottles are already at, say, 30 degrees, they may get too cold
to work before the plane is adequately heated.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[nrp]

If you have enough of an accident to puncture one of those propane
tanks, You won't have to worry about insurance anyway.

NRP

[Matt Barrow]

"nrp" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> If you have enough of an accident to puncture one of those propane
> tanks, You won't have to worry about insurance anyway.
>
"I drive too fast to worry about Cholesterol".