X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:09:24 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from rwcrmhc14.comcast.net ([216.148.227.154] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1.12) with ESMTP id 2367234 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:35:03 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.148.227.154; envelope-from=mdflyer982@comcast.net Received: from ee20e4e819e04ac (c-75-73-34-201.hsd1.mn.comcast.net[75.73.34.201]) by comcast.net (rwcrmhc14) with SMTP id <20071003233417m1400p0h06e>; Wed, 3 Oct 2007 23:34:27 +0000 From: "Michael" X-Original-To: "'Lancair Mailing List'" Subject: RE: [LML] Turn Coordinators and Autopilots X-Original-Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 18:34:16 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0018_01C805EC.0789A0E0" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.5510 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 Thread-Index: AcgGEcY6RKFmY6DDRearL0YdGWktpwAA7yGA In-Reply-To: X-Original-Message-ID: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0018_01C805EC.0789A0E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Listers, Regarding this, does this TC flag as failed? If not that is a real problem. Otherwise, statistically you are more likely to fail an artificial horizon than the TC. I have had two horizons fail in 2700 hours but no TC failures. The last one required me to fly partial panel for nearly 400 miles above an overcast (tops were at 17000 and Denver was in the midst of a sever snowstorm. Michael Smith _____ From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of VTAILJEFF@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:01 PM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Turn Coordinators and Autopilots For those of you that have STEC autopilot systems please read SAIB 60-21 attached below. The STEC autopilots use the TC for "attitude" reference. Their sales literature tell you how much safer this is over the attitude reference systems other manufacturers use (like King). Unfortunately, STEC does not tell you that if the TC ground wire becomes disconnected or the TC loses the ground signal the AP will still operate by slowly rolling the aircraft one way or another (albeit without an attitude reference). This can pose a big problem in the cockpit if you are IMC (the AP "ready" light is on but the TC is failed) and can cause a pilot to lose control of the aircraft. It is my opinion that this has been the cause of at least two fatal accidents and one serious accident. The survivors of the serious accident -- two instrument rated pilots related how confusing it can be to fly with the AI going one way and the TC going the other way. Unfortunately, STEC is currently fighting one of these cases Federal Court in NJ where I have testified against them and has chosen to not inform its customers of this potentially deadly problem. Fly safe, Jeff _____ See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. ------=_NextPart_000_0018_01C805EC.0789A0E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Listers,

 

Regarding this, does this TC flag as failed?  = If not that is a real problem.  Otherwise, statistically you are more = likely to fail an artificial horizon than the TC.  I have had two horizons = fail in 2700 hours but no TC failures.  The last one required me to fly = partial panel for nearly 400 miles above an overcast (tops were at 17000 and = Denver was in the midst of a sever snowstorm.

 

 

Michael Smith

From: = Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of VTAILJEFF@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, October = 03, 2007 6:01 PM
To: = lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Turn = Coordinators and Autopilots

 

For those of you that have STEC = autopilot systems please read  SAIB 60-21 attached below. The STEC autopilots = use the TC for "attitude" reference. Their sales literature tell = you how much safer this is over the attitude reference systems other = manufacturers use (like King). Unfortunately, STEC does not tell you that if the TC ground = wire becomes disconnected or the TC loses the ground signal the AP will still operate by slowly rolling the aircraft one way or another (albeit = without an attitude reference). This can pose a big problem in the cockpit if you = are IMC (the AP "ready" light is on but the TC is failed) and can = cause a pilot to lose control of the aircraft. It is my opinion that this has = been the cause of at least two fatal accidents and one serious accident. The survivors of the serious accident -- two instrument rated pilots related = how confusing it can be to fly with the AI going one way and the TC going = the other way.

 

=

Unfortunately, STEC is currently fighting one of these cases Federal Court in NJ where I have testified against them and has chosen to not inform its customers of = this potentially deadly problem.

 

=

Fly = safe,

 

=

Jeff

 

=



See what's new at AOL.com and Mak= e AOL Your Homepage.

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