Hi All. Hoping someone can help me understand a recurring problem I'm having with the Shrike 500S (HD) in FSX. I keep losing power mid-flight and crashing. I'm closely following the procedures defined in the manual. Nothing I've tried seems to help. It happens at various power settings, various altitudes and in various weather conditions. It last happened at cruise power, at an altitude of 3,500 ft, cowl flaps closed, mixture set as appropriate (automix OFF). I watched the gauges and at the point I heard the engine tone shift, all gauges seemed to be giving optimal readouts. Manifold pressure then drops considerably, and I begin a gentle, but usually terminal descent 😞 The engines never cut out altogether, and occasionally, the power will suddenly jump back up and I can resume normal flight. I've tried switching fuel boost on as soon as this happens, as suggested in the manual, but this has no effect.

I'm absolutely baffled. This doesn't happen in any other aircraft I fly. Any guidance anyone can offer would be gratefully received, as in all other respects, I love flying the Shrike - but will have to abandon it if I can't trust it to stay airborne.

Edited January 23, 20215 yr by Groobs

Are you switching Pitot Heat on?  Also, some aircraft in colder weather need Carb Heat switched on but lack a control or switch to do that.  So at the start of your flight press the H key on your keyboard.  That is the FSX hotkey for Carb Heat.  No pun intended.

Try turning on carburetor heat.  Yes, the Lycoming IO-540 engines use fuel injection, but FSX also applies carburetor icing to fuel injected engines.

Here is another example of a Carenado fuel injected aircraft suffering from carburetor icing.

 

Many thanks both for this suggestion. Will give it a try later and feed back.

@stans & @fppilot Excellent - thanks again 🙏 This does indeed appear to be the solution to my problem. Just completed a flight at -12^oc OAT, having activated the imaginary carb heat, and sure enough: a problem-free and entirely satisfying flight. Immensely relieved and grateful for your assistance.

Glad I could help.