Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 58

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Setting the
Standard in today'S
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Servicing	helicopters,		
fixed	wing	&	light	sport
In-house	avionics	NAV/COM	
and	autopilot	repairs
Avionics	sales,	service		
and	installations
Pitot	static	transponder	
certification

Willow Run Airport (YIP)
48162 F Street
Belleville, MI 48111
phone: 734-484-9511 • fax:734-484-9636
martyhall@topflightavionics.com
www.topflightavionics.com

TEMPLE
ELECTRONICS
COMPANY INC.

Avionics Sales, Service
and Installation
• 3 locations serving the greater
Houston area HOU, CXO and TME
• RVSM, Bi-Annuals 14CFR 91.411
appendix G & 91.413
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Phone: 713-649-8175 • Fax: 713-649-8760
sales@templeavionics.com
www.templeavionics.com

UNDERSTANDING AUTOPILOT UPGRADES
Continued from page 57

just check one thing at a time and end – don’t start – with a coupled approach
check. It will take an hour, maybe a little more. But by the time you’re through,
you can turn it over to the owner with a clear conscience. If the owner isn’t
aboard for the flight test, we will take them up on a demo flight and make sure
they know how to use it, which also is an opportunity to show off, since you
know the system is working. Teaching the user how the system works is really a way to advertise as an avionics shop. This will get good word of mouth
(advertising) and generate more business.”
Weber agreed flying with the pilot is essential.
“If we have a low-time pilot, we will try to arrange a CFI to fly with him,”
Weber said. “If at all possible, we want the pilot who will be flying the system
aboard, whether or not he (or she) is at the controls. This tends to be a very
interactive flight with a lot of communication between us and the pilot, and we
want to stay well within the airplane’s performance envelope. Ideally, you want
a calm VFR day with minimal turbulence to make adjustments easier – a little
turbulence can mask a lot of problems.”
Hall added that a demo flight provides an opportunity to show off how well
the new autopilot installation works and ensure the pilot understands any new
features.
“We designed the DFC-90 to replace an S-TEC 55X, so there should be
no training required on those functions,” Hall said. “But we add new features
like our straight-and-level button and envelope protection. Demonstrating
helps the pilot understand what those functions do.”
There are some tricks that can help in troubleshooting autopilot problems.
According to Weber, the flight director (on airplanes equipped with one, or with
a glass panel that provides equivalent functionality) “is one of the most underused items in troubleshooting, and 75 percent of the time I’ll ask the pilot or
another technician what the command bars are doing. If the command bars go
left and the servo goes right, it’s a bad servo. If the command bars are trying to
roll the airplane on its back, it’s probably a problem with the attitude reference.”
Evans said cable tension can be a special problem in business-class airplanes that operate at high altitudes.
“You have thermal cycling, which can affect cable tension,” Evans said. “In
the King Air and small jets, it’s not unusual to get pitch porpoising after about
an hour at altitude. It’s a symptom of loose cable tension, which gets looser
as the temperature drops. Set cable tension closer to the high end of the allowed range on the ground to eliminate trouble up high.
“Control surface friction also is an issue for autopilots. It’s a major limitation in some jets, where you’ll have to test control-system tension against
yoke deflection. If there’s too much friction, the servo won’t be able to overcome it. I’ve had a customer complain about electric elevator trim, got in
the airplane and found that it required a lot of force to move the yoke. In a
situation like that, the safety clutch just slips. I told the customer he didn’t
have an autopilot problem, he had a serious pitch trim problem.” q

- 58 -


http://www.topflightavionics.com http://www.templeavionics.com

Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014

From the Publisher
Interested in AEA Membership?
AEA Staff/Board of Directors
New Avionics Products for 2013
What's Up With Backup Instruments?
Going Glass
Before & After
Aircraft as Antenna Farm
Cockpit Innovations
Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
ADS-B Circa 2013
Portable Powerhouses, GPS and VHF
Minimal Panels
NextGen Status Report
Repair Stations
Manufacturers/Distributors
Affiliates/Index
AEA Member Company Index
Advertiser Index
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Intro
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Cover1
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Cover2
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 1
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 2
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 3
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Interested in AEA Membership?
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 5
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - AEA Staff/Board of Directors
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 7
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - New Avionics Products for 2013
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 9
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 10
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 11
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 12
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 13
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 14
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 15
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 16
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 17
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 18
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 19
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 20
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 21
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 22
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 23
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 24
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 25
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 26
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 27
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 28
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 29
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - What's Up With Backup Instruments?
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 31
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 32
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 33
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Going Glass
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 35
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 36
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 37
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 38
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 39
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 40
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 41
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Before & After
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 43
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Aircraft as Antenna Farm
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 45
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 46
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 47
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 48
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 49
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Cockpit Innovations
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 51
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 52
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 53
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 54
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 55
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 57
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 58
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 59
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - ADS-B Circa 2013
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 61
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 62
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 63
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 64
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 65
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Portable Powerhouses, GPS and VHF
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 67
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 68
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 69
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 70
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 71
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 72
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 73
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 74
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 75
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 76
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 77
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 78
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 79
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Minimal Panels
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 81
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 82
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 83
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - NextGen Status Report
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 85
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 86
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 87
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 88
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Repair Stations
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 90
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 91
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 92
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 93
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 94
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 95
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 96
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 97
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 98
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 99
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 100
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 101
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 102
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 103
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 104
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 105
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 106
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 107
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 108
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 109
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 110
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 111
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 112
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 113
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 114
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 115
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 116
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 117
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 118
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 119
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 120
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 121
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 122
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 123
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 124
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 125
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 126
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 127
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 128
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 129
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 130
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 131
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 132
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Manufacturers/Distributors
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 134
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 135
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 136
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 137
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 138
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 139
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 140
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 141
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 142
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 143
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 144
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Affiliates/Index
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 146
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 147
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 148
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 149
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 150
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - AEA Member Company Index
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 152
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 153
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 154
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 155
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 156
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 157
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 158
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 159
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Advertiser Index
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Cover3
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - Cover4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/23-24
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/22-23
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/21-22
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/20-21
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/19-20
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/18-19
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/17-18
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/16-17
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/15-16
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/pilotsguide/2014-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/pilotsguide/2013-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/pilotsguide/2012-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/pilotsguide/2011-2012
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com