DA40 Adding the extended luggage compartment

[Lance Murray]

Thanks Rich. My guy still hasn't finished my W&B as his scale showed a 70lb increase. His scales were clearly not correct.

[Rich]

Thanks Rich. My guy still hasn't finished my W&B as his scale showed a 70lb increase. His scales were clearly not correct.

Yep, way off. Anyone that's removed these components (such as during annual) knows that each of the couple of main components subjectively feels like "a few" pounds.

It's been so long since I had this done, does anyone have a photo of what the original w/ski tube looks like?

[Rich]

I tumbled onto an additional baggage option available for the NG. I'm not sure what the need is for this, but from the POH:

There is a picture on the Diamond website showing it in place.

[Steve]

It's been so long since I had this done, does anyone have a photo of what the original w/ski tube looks like?

Rich here are a few photos, not sure if they show what you are interested in...

Showing rear baggage area with cover to ski tube

During annual, rear seat installation showing tube with rear bulkhead removed

Another view with copilot seat out

Hope this helps,

Steve

[CFIDave]

I tumbled onto an additional baggage option available for the NG. I'm not sure what the need is for this, but from the POH:

Screen Shot 2022-02-16 at 16.29.29.png

There is a picture on the Diamond website showing it in place.

The "short baggage extension" is used on all DA40NGs and DA42s with factory air conditioning -- to leave room for installation of the RACC II air conditioning unit (located aft of the short extension).

[astaib]

Thanks Rich. My guy still hasn't finished my W&B as his scale showed a 70lb increase. His scales were clearly not correct.

Yep, way off. Anyone that's removed these components (such as during annual) knows that each of the couple of main components subjectively feels like "a few" pounds.

It's been so long since I had this done, does anyone have a photo of what the original w/ski tube looks like?

[Steve]

Arnaud:

Yours is a much better photo than mine are. One interesting variation I noticed is that your baggage tube is affixed to the bulkhead with 4 bolts, mine is attached with only 3. I remove mine at every Annual Inspection - it isn't absolutely necessary, but makes access to stuff behind the bulkhead much easier...

[astaib]

Arnaud:

Yours is a much better photo than mine are. One interesting variation I noticed is that your baggage tube is affixed to the bulkhead with 4 bolts, mine is attached with only 3. I remove mine at every Annual Inspection - it isn't absolutely necessary, but makes access to stuff behind the bulkhead much easier...

Hi,

In fact there are 5 bolts, one is on the right side too.

The ski tube was not in my plane from origin, I bought it from a plane that made the modification and did the installation myself (signed by my AP). And I decided to place 5 bolts .

Arnaud.

[Rich]

I did some digging to understand what installing this modification entails. Summary: It isn't just pull out the old and stick in the new. At the least:
1. Pull out the baggage tube and cover (no big deal).
2. Remove the rear seat to allow access for the following steps.
3. Remove the 4 cargo net fittings on the rear floor.
4. Add 4 properly positioned holes and nut-plates for new camlock fasteners in the bulkhead
5. Add 6 properly positioned holes and nut-plates for new M5 screws in the floor plates
6. Add 3 cargo net fittings to the rear of the rear seats (I'm not 100% sure they weren't already there, but I don't think they were).
7. Then put the new components in place. This is a bit more more of a production than the original stuff, such as rear seat shoulder belt removal. R&R, when needed for inspection, does entail a bit more work than the original setup.

It's possible that the components to be installed may require some assembly, such as camlock fasteners and the little magnet thingee. And there might be a couple of less obvious things involved.

[DragonFly]

I know it is a bit of an old topic, but I wanted to add that I have an extended baggage compartment in my storage room that I am not using. If interested, let me know. I also believe I have a ski tube that is not being used, just sitting around.