Throttle Lock

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TruckerJoe28

Filing Flight Plan
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TruckerJoe28
Hello all! I recently upgraded to full electronic ignition in my Turbo Lance. Along with the magnetos, the keyed ignition switch is also now gone--just a push button to start the plane. I wanted to have an additional layer of security for the airplane in addition to the door locks but am having trouble finding something out there. I'm envisioning a throttle lock of some variety (or anything, really) but I'm having trouble finding something like that. The only thing I can think of is to wrap some chain around the throttle/prop/mixture and lock it with a padlock, but was hoping for a more elegant solution. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Best,
Joe
 
They do make a throttle lock for a push pull knob. It looks like a tube with a slit for a hasp lock.
1735736281920.jpeg
 
What is your end goal? Preventing them from starting the engine, or preventing them from flying the plane?

If #1, install a key-type on-off switch in series with the start switch wire. Label it Master Start, or if you want to be discrete (although that wouldn't be legal), label it Fuel Dump or Ejection Seat Arm.
If you really want to go overboard, install a keyed battery disconnect switch.

If #2, just install a control lock.
 
If you think the door locks have any level of security, you'd be mistaken. Most don't want to steal the plane itself. But the avionics inside. The door lock ain't stopping them. Take the avionics, but please don't take a pry bar to my airframe.
 
@William Pete Hodges, @Pinecone, that's the concept I'm thinking of, but I've never seen a device like that that fits on a piper-style throttle quadrant (not a vernier-type throttle like in single-engine Cessna).

AV8R_87 said:
What is your end goal? Preventing them from starting the engine, or preventing them from flying the plane?

If #1, install a key-type on-off switch in series with the start switch wire. Label it Master Start, or if you want to be discrete (although that wouldn't be legal), label it Fuel Dump or Ejection Seat Arm.
If you really want to go overboard, install a keyed battery disconnect switch.

If #2, just install a control lock.
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I was considering something like #1--a friend of mine has a guarded switch under the panel under his RV-8 that is essentially an additional master switch in series as an anti-theft device. But I figure that may be getting into a certified aircraft would be challenge (legally). Seems like that would be going down a type-design change/major alteration road.

At the end of the day, I recognize this is only keeping the honest people out. I don't have a specific type of criminal or type of act in mind that I'm trying to deter--just trying to add an additional layer of annoyance to whomever may try to mess with the plane.

Thanks for the ideas!

-Joe
 
TruckerJoe28 said:
But I figure that may be getting into a certified aircraft would be challenge (legally). Seems like that would be going down a type-design change/major alteration road.
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I would make the argument that adding a circuit breaker in series with the start solenoid to protect the wiring in case of an electrical fault is a minor alteration.
 
TruckerJoe28 said:
@William Pete Hodges, @Pinecone, that's the concept I'm thinking of, but I've never seen a device like that that fits on a piper-style throttle quadrant (not a vernier-type throttle like in single-engine Cessna).
Click to expand...

Missed that this is a for a Piper.

I switched to toggle switches in my Mooney. If they want to steal it, they will, no matter what I do.

See YouTube for how hard it is to open a padlock.
 
This reminds me of a time when a friend of mine went sailing on a friend's uncle’s yacht. Then my friend noticed he’d bypassed “security” by unscrewing the ignition switch cover and rotating it out of the way.

Oh that’s how my uncle does it too

lol

It’s forty years later, I don’t remember the friend, just the story

Anyway, regarding planes. There’s a guy at a local tie down with solar power, multiple cameras, internet connection of a continuous stream, etc.

Probably has airport security watching over ingress too. Oh, and a satellite view. Maybe he’s storing gold in the plane. Otoh avionics on par per pound with gold
 
TruckerJoe28 said:
I've never seen a device like that that fits on a piper-style throttle quadrant
Click to expand...
Draw what you want in CAD and have it printed by one of the online places. Yes, you can break 3d printed plastic, but you can make it difficult enough...
Some places like Slant 3d will drop ship if you want to market them.
 
Is airplane theft really a thing? Seems like a waste of time to me, its not like someone is going to break into it fly it away. Making it "harder" to steal would probably result in someone trashing the panel and the locked door.
 
Wagondriver said:
Is airplane theft really a thing? Seems like a waste of time to me, its not like someone is going to break into it fly it away. Making it "harder" to steal would probably result in someone trashing the panel and the locked door.
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Yes, it's a thing.
 
Wagondriver said:
Is airplane theft really a thing?
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Yes and has been since the 80s. While you get the occasional local joy ride like above, most are stolen by organized groups with 99.9% of the aircraft going south of the border.
 
Wagondriver said:
Is airplane theft really a thing? Seems like a waste of time to me, its not like someone is going to break into it fly it away. Making it "harder" to steal would probably result in someone trashing the panel and the locked door.
Click to expand...

I am more about just making mine a bit harder to get into, so they will break into YOUR airplane. :D
 
Bell206 said:
Yes and has been since the 80s. While you get the occasional local joy ride like above, most are stolen by organized groups with 99.9% of the aircraft going south of the border.
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How many per year?

And what makes/models?

I have heard of planes being stolen to use to make drug runs, but again, how many? I haven't heard of any airplanes of people I know or that they know for the some 45 years I have been in and out of aviation.
 
Pinecone said:
How many per year?
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200-300+ /yr in the 1980s to 90s mainly due to drug trafficking. With advent of computer technology in the 2000s aircraft theft fell out of favor on the drug side and the pure theft side moved down to the component level. Last figures I saw about 5 years ago was an average of 30-40 aircraft stolen per year in the US. However, the numbers of aircraft components/parts supply line theft values increased 10-fold since then to the point most OEMs keep internal lists of stolen item ID info to track them.

Pinecone said:
And what makes/models?
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A-Z. SEL to jets.
 
If guests or kids can be in or around the plane, either inside or out of the hangar, of course you'd want some sort of prop spin deterrent. One curious push of that button it could get ugly fast.
A throttle or mixture lock won't address that part.

I'd say a toggle or other switch. Which you could hide a bit, but then you have to remember to turn it off. Or you could make it momentary, where you have to hold it to activate the start button. But then during an emergency restart you have to remember that.

Key is a pain but has it's merits.
 
TruckerJoe28 said:
just a push button to start the plane. I wanted to have an additional layer of security for the airplane
Click to expand...

www.bradyid.com

Push Button Safety Cover

Push button safety covers prevent unauthorized use of push/pull and twist-release emergency devices.
www.bradyid.com

Or for a cheaper plastic solution,

Just add a small padlock and you’re done.
 
starter-lock.jpeg
I had a keyed switch inlined with the push button starter to prevent accidents when people are looking at the plane. Been working great so far.
 
This seems like a trivially easy problem to solve: Just remove the starter button and go back to a keyed momentary switch similar to the one it came with from the factory. Why is that not an option?
 
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