Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 00:52:24 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from sccrmhc12.comcast.net ([204.127.202.56] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2) with ESMTP id 392422 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 04 Sep 2004 00:41:49 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=204.127.202.56; envelope-from=olsen25@comcast.net Received: from pavilion (c-24-9-81-190.client.comcast.net[24.9.81.190]) by comcast.net (sccrmhc12) with SMTP id <20040904044120012000p44ie>; Sat, 4 Sep 2004 04:41:20 +0000 From: "Dan & Kari Olsen" X-Original-To: Subject: P-static blew my VM1000, autopilot and trim indicator today X-Original-Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 22:43:10 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: <00cd01c49239$ae71a0d0$6401a8c0@pavilion> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00CE_01C49207.63D730D0" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.3416 Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00CE_01C49207.63D730D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit LML Gang, Today I was happily flying my 320 from Colorado to the Lancair factory fly-in when I entered actual IMC. I encountered a few light snow showers in the clouds when the P-static started in. The usual cracking and buzzing in the headsets, hair standing on end, etc. The encounters lasted only 30 seconds or so. On the first encounter my TruTrak DigiFlight II autopilot disengaged. When I looked at it the display was blank and the circuit breaker had not blown. I cycled power to the autopilot and only the LCD backlight would come on. At this time I discovered that the VM1000 engine instrumentation system had frozen. The display was showing all the parameters as they had been but nothing would move or react to changes. Cycled power to this and it worked again. A couple minutes later another P-static encounter. This time the VM1000 started displaying garbage and then blank. Power cycle to the VM1000 did nothing - it was dead. The Jim Frantz AOA also started going nuts and then just quit. I also discovered that the Ray Allen pitch trim indicator (LED type) quit, although the trim servo still worked. All though this the UPS Apollo transponder, GPS/COM and NAV/COM kept working flawlessly. I quickly contacted center for a 180 out of the ICM and amended flight plan to get me back in the clear and on the ground. A few minutes after back in the clear and the AOA began working again. So, now I have a couple problems. 1) get the broken equipment fixed; and 2) figure out how to prevent this from happening again. I talked with Jim Younkin at TruTrak today and he has a good idea of what the problem is with the autopilot. It's already on its way to Jim. The folks at VisionMicro don't work on Fridays, so I have no answer there yet. What concerns me the most is the prevention part of this. Because my plane is made of e-glass, static wicks are not an option. Can any of you give me pointers on what I might do to protect the sensitive electronic gear in the future, besides avoid flying through snow? BTW, I'll do my best to avoid that again! It is interesting to me that some of the equipment worked like a charm through this all. The avionics stack and LCD clock/OAT/volts. Am I missing something in my grounding system? Is there some static protection built into some of the avionics but not others? I am also very interested in the experience others have had in IMC. I have only had my 320 in IMC twice. Once in warm, wet clouds and rain. Today in cold, snowy clouds. Unless I can put my finger on something that can protect the gear, I will have almost no confidence to take it in any IMC - warm or cold. I look forward to your replies. Best Regards, Dan P.S. Have fun in Redmond for me! ------=_NextPart_000_00CE_01C49207.63D730D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

LML Gang,

 

Today I was happily flying my 320 from = Colorado to the Lancair factory fly-in when I entered actual IMC.  I encountered a = few light snow showers in the clouds when the P-static started in.  The = usual cracking and buzzing in the headsets, hair standing on end, etc.  = The encounters lasted only 30 seconds or so.  On the first encounter my = TruTrak DigiFlight II autopilot disengaged.  When I looked at it the = display was blank and the circuit breaker had not blown.  I cycled power to the autopilot and only the LCD backlight would come on.  At this time I discovered that the VM1000 engine instrumentation system had = frozen.  The display was showing all the parameters as they had been but nothing = would move or react to changes.  Cycled power to this and it worked = again.

 

A couple minutes later another P-static = encounter.  This time the VM1000 started displaying garbage and then blank.  = Power cycle to the VM1000 did nothing – it was dead.  The Jim = Frantz AOA also started going nuts and then just quit.  I also discovered that = the Ray Allen pitch trim indicator (LED type) quit, although the trim servo = still worked.

 

All though this the UPS Apollo transponder, GPS/COM = and NAV/COM kept working flawlessly.  I quickly contacted center for a = 180 out of the ICM and amended flight plan to get me back in the clear and on = the ground.  A few minutes after back in the clear and the AOA began = working again.

 

So, now I have a couple problems.  1) get the = broken equipment fixed; and 2) figure out how to prevent this from happening = again.

 

I talked with Jim Younkin at TruTrak today and he has = a good idea of what the problem is with the autopilot.  It’s already = on its way to Jim.  The folks at VisionMicro don’t work on Fridays, = so I have no answer there yet.

 

What concerns me the most is the prevention part of = this.  Because my plane is made of e-glass, static wicks are not an = option.  Can any of you give me pointers on what I might do to protect the sensitive electronic gear in the future, besides avoid flying through snow?  = BTW, I’ll do my best to avoid that again!

 

It is interesting to me that some of the equipment = worked like a charm through this all.  The avionics stack and LCD = clock/OAT/volts.  Am I missing something in my grounding system?  Is there some = static protection built into some of the avionics but not = others?

 

I am also very interested in the experience others = have had in IMC.  I have only had my 320 in IMC twice.  Once in warm, = wet clouds and rain.  Today in cold, snowy clouds.  Unless I can = put my finger on something that can protect the gear, I will have almost no = confidence to take it in any IMC – warm or cold.

 

I look forward to your replies.

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Dan

 

P.S. Have fun in Redmond for me!

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