Hello,I recently installed MD-11 for FSX. I'm having a very weird problem that sometimes after I disconnect the autopilot, my elevator stays locked. I've tried AFS override switches and everything but nothing works. Today I noticed, that if I keep z button (FS AP master switch) pressed all the time, the elevator works. When I release the button, it doesnt work anymore. In slew mode the joystick works normaly, and also during the proble, you can see the virtual cockpit yokes moving forward and backwards while you move joystick. But elevator stays locked, until you keep z pressed down. And this only happens after disconnecting the autopilot. Before turning autopilot on, it works well.I've checked all the FSX and FSUIPC (4.26) settings but I haven't found anything related to it. Can anyone help me with that? I've flown few hundred hours with MD-11 in FS2004 and never had any problems like this before. Only now it has happened with FSX.Joona Väisänen

What a strange problem. Using the AFS override switches should not be required, I assume you normally use the default Z keycommand for this function. Maybe try verifying it is set in the pmdg options menu. Something else you might try is to make sure you are loading the aircraft either from Create a Flight or if a saved flight, you are loading over a non-complex aircraft such as the Trike.

Holding the autopilot button on your yoke disables the LSAS in the PMDG aircraft and the real thing. Try disabling LSAS on the overhead and see what happens. It sounds like your install is messed up.

Yes, LSAS seems to be the problem. Disabling all four LSAS switches in overhead panel makes controls alive again. I have reinstalled MD11 but the problem stays there.Joona

Yes, LSAS seems to be the problem. Disabling all four LSAS switches in overhead panel makes controls alive again. I have reinstalled MD11 but the problem stays there.

Joona,have you tried playing with that LSAS slider in the PMDG settings? I'm afraid I've forgotten how that slider was labelled, it's the slider in the yoke/throttle settings of the PMDG menu. If this slider is in the wrong position for your hardware steering device, this might result in the stick force never to be big enough to cause LSAS pitch hold to disengage...Cheers,Markus

Joona,have you tried playing with that LSAS slider in the PMDG settings? I'm afraid I've forgotten how that slider was labelled, it's the slider in the yoke/throttle settings of the PMDG menu. If this slider is in the wrong position for your hardware steering device, this might result in the stick force never to be big enough to cause LSAS pitch hold to disengage...Cheers,Markus

No I haven't tried that. The problems is still there. Currently I can rotate to around 15' ANU and then it starts. And it might happen anytime. On my recent flight, it came at around 400ft RA on final approach   :( I just uninstalled and reinstalled it again and I'll have to see how it's behaving. I'll check the slider also. However, I think it's not the problem because the problem happens sometimes and always suddenly. After it happens, I usually save/load the situation and then it works again  :huh:Joona

I've uninstalled and reinstalled everything. I mean the whole FSX. But the problem is still there. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work. I don't know what to do anymore.Joona EDIT: Now it happened second time on the same flight. I don't know anymore. I seem to be the only one who is having this problem . It's getting very frustrating. I'll give up and delete the MD11 if the problem doesn't go away. I can not fly manually at all except when it works. There's no any reason for this.

Here is a video of the problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf6h0JXXvvk In this case the plane doesn't seem to take any commands from the yoke,Joona

Hello Joona,I am also having this problem however elevator control suddenly returns about 100 ft AGL. It occurs just as you describe; fully automatic approach, disconnect autopilot, aileron control returns but there is no elevator control until 100 ft agl..Thanks..Steven Cherry

Something is really bizarre in that video, as you appear to be at max operating ceiling although you have FL390 set...The red and yellow zones on the speed tape are so close that they almost touch...What was the max alt on the MCDU?Andrew

Now I have installed everything again and the problem seems to be still there. However, now elevator works normally through keyboard. From joystick it won't work. I can still see the yokes moving in 3d cockpit normaly but the system doesn't take any elevator commands. From keyboard no problems at all. Holding z or turning off LSAS channels returns elevator control for joystick. Any ideas what could be wrong? This starts suddenly. Sometimes after rotation during takeoff, sometimes later in the air, sometimes during approach and sometimes it never happens.Joona Väisänen

Any ideas what could be wrong? This starts suddenly. Sometimes after rotation during takeoff, sometimes later in the air, sometimes during approach and sometimes it never happens.Joona Väisänen

Joona,Two short answers to help you.1- Pay attention to Andrew's post above. Your video is of great value, his questions also!2- As I see it:At this moment you have problems to control the speed within the limits shown on the speedtape between Vmin and Vmax. Only practice and understanding can solve this.Regarding the so-called "locked" elevator, this is happening in the simulation (not in the real aircraft) when you are too far below the required Vmin or too far above required Vmax.Regards,HarryEdit: @Markus: Have tried the LSAS sliders too in the PMDG menu (Light to Heavy), just to be sure this is not the item

Joona,Two short answers to help you.1- Pay attention to Andrew's post above. Your video is of great value, his questions also!2- As I see it:At this moment you have problems to control the speed within the limits shown on the speedtape between Vmin and Vmax. Only practice and understanding can solve this.Regarding the so-called "locked" elevator, this is happening in the simulation (not in the real aircraft) when you are too far below the required Vmin or too far above required Vmax.Regards,HarryEdit: @Markus: Have tried the LSAS sliders too in the PMDG menu (Light to Heavy), just to be sure this is not the item

What comes to that video. I do not have problems controling the speed. In that video everything is messed up already. The plane wasn't under control. The video has no other value than to show how the controls don't work. I will paste a better video here. However, I also want to remind of what I have said before, I have flown MD-11 for hundreds of hours in the FS2004 before without any problems like this. Also, this doesn't happen on every flight. Just sometimes. I guarantee to you that the problem has nothing to do with the speed. And now the elevator seems to be working with keyboard but not with the joystick. How do you explain this? LSAS slider has  no effect on this.No offense but please don't tell me that I can't fly this plane and that's the reason for this problem. There is really something messed up now and I don't know what is that.In this video even the ailerons didn't work. Again LSAS slider had no effect whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNqA6LwrF-U

Something is really bizarre in that video, as you appear to be at max operating ceiling although you have FL390 set...

Because the nose rose up a little when I disconnected autopilot. And then I was trying to control the elevator. Altitude keeps rising, because nobody is lowering the nose. The sole meaning of the video was to show the problem. Ignore everything else.Joona

The elevator "locked" problem seems to occur, more often for me, on longer flights. I have never experienced it on short flights such as pattern work. It occurs with the aircraft on a very stable approach, appropriate speeds, with approach mode engaged. When the auto pilot is disengaged to complete the flight manually, aileron and rudder control return, but elevator control does not. It is as if the autopilot is not releasing that axis. It also noticed that it also seems to be associated with the cockpit LCDs not updating in the virtual cockpit on long flights. I can solve this problem by switching to the 2d cockpit and then back to VC.. Thanks......Steven Cherry

1 Check the joystick controls thoroughly. Use the joysticks test ( like Saitek Pro ) or test in Windows. I dont know what you are using? A yoke or flight stick? 2. Do you have this problem with other aircraft?3. The FSUIPC is crucial to the sim. I would download Peters latest FSUIPC ( free is fine ) and re try.4. Fly a full hand flown flight. Add in some auto pilot ( heading and Auto speed ) moving to full autopilot. Try autopilot disconnects at different phases of flight?

1. I am using a cheap Sweex joystick. Very good, haven't had any problems before. I have tested it fully in windows and there has been no problems whatsoever. I've been flying with MD-11 in FS2004 also before without any problems.2. The problem occurs only with the MD-11 and only if the LSAS is switched on.3. I have tried with many old and new versions of FSUIPC. And also without FSUIPC at all. I'm not sure what version I have now. However, FSUIPC doesn't seem to have any effect on this.4. Sometimes the problem occurs immediately after rotate. Say, I rotate during takeoff and get the nose to let's say 10 degrees ANU and it's stuck right away. So sometimes can't even rotate to full takeoff position.Ps. Steven, I also have the problem with LCD displays freezing sometimes suddenly. Like in my first video you can see in the early beginning. LCDs are frozen and suddenly come back to life. I need to try your hint on changing to 2d if it would help.Anyway thanks for all the help. Like I said, now the elevator control works from keyboard so there's been some advancing. I will win this. I have to because I can't change away from MD-11. That would be like dying :Whistle:Joona Väisänen