My cargo door leaks in the rain. It's ten years old, maybe it just needs a new seal? Anyone have this problem and a fix?

I just used adhesive backed foam tape from the local hardware store. It comes in 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1inch widths and various thickness.

It's a Maule... an Experimental plane in a Certified planes clothing
Put your stuff in a 3Mil plastic bag, and you'll be good.
That's how they do it in Mexico

Mr SkyTruck, would you be so kind as to give me your current LatLong.

From the looks of your armament, California.
Second choice, Mexico.
Thanks for asking.

SkyTruck wrote:From the looks of your armament, California.
Second choice, Mexico.
Thanks for asking.

Hahahaha!

rw2 wrote:My cargo door leaks in the rain. It's ten years old, maybe it just needs a new seal? Anyone have this problem and a fix?

IMHO you have two problems. Having your cargo get wet, and having water leaking into a steel tube airplane.

I believe that the FAR's and CFR's and FAA ASI's and DER's and most of the experienced people here would agree that you can apply commercial weatherstrip to the door the same way an owner can paint or upholster a non-commercial airplane, using any good quality weatherstrip that does not require modifying the airplane.

To me, this is more of a damage prevention and maintenance issue than a wet sleeping bag issue.

If anyone asks you about the weatherstrip, tell them you are... "taking non-structural, preventative, owner-maintenance steps under Part 43 to insure the continued airworthiness and safe operation of your aircraft, which is also in direct accordance with the FAA's recent paper on continued airworthiness concerns for the aging GA fleet".

I can't remember the official title of that FAA paper, but it was within the last 5 or 6 years, and was jointly written by the FAA, EAA, and several type clubs as a cooperative position paper.

Basically, put in self-stick rubberized foam weatherstrip of the right thickness. Use "closed cell" foam and not the cheaper open cell foam which can hold water.

r2w, check the search on the Maule forum and you will find this has been discussed.
water coming off rear of wing drains to the point where rear door overlaps/meets baggage door and if the seal is old or crushed it leaves a tiny gap. Sticky back J channel rubber or formica edge moulding can be attached above the doors and channels all water to rear of baggage door.

Thanks everyone.

Anyone else who might be interested should check this link: http://maulepilots.org/forums/viewtopic ... ht=channel