C414 Speed Issue

[cchiozza 108]

Really enjoy the C414 but my cruise speed is way short. All I get is a GS around 160-170 knots. Am I missing something?

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,799]

Mixture ?

[cchiozza 108]

Full Rich, then lean out depending on cruise.

Edited August 16, 2022 by cchiozza

[Torsen 496]

Which flight level, power settings? And please check if you are referring to IAS oder TAS.

For example on FL200 with max settings I will get around 160 IAS but 215 TAS and thats matching the POH (at least to the few numbers we actually have)

Cheers

T.

[Cpt_Piett 4,807]

I usually get 180-190 kts TAS at 6000ft depending on winds. For cruise I use MP 31 and 2300 prop. Mixture leaned. 

[Frag 27]

Make sure you check the true ground speed on your GPS. The speed indicated on the air speed indicator on the dash dial is affected by the wind a lot. For example ... you could see 160 knots on the air speed indicator, but you would fly at a ground speed of 188.

 

 

[sd_flyer 6,087]

2 hours ago, cchiozza said:

Really enjoy the C414 but my cruise speed is way short. All I get is a GS around 160-170 knots. Am I missing something?

Similar episode happened to me IRL in Piper Arrow when my gear stuck half way out. It took me a minute to figure that out. Make sure all your flaps and gear are up!

[ryanbatc 13,017]

3 hours ago, cchiozza said:

Really enjoy the C414 but my cruise speed is way short. All I get is a GS around 160-170 knots. Am I missing something?

What altitude?  What power settings?  MP and RPM?  Weight?

Ground speed depends on wind - if you have a big headwind 160 could be totally normal.  This plane typically does about 210-220 KTAS (knots true airspeed) at FL210.  So you'd see about 150-155 KIAS at FL210 (the speed indicated on your gauge).

[fppilot 4,391]

3 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

What altitude?  What power settings?  MP and RPM?  Weight?

Yep! but is the first question here "where are you reading your ground speed"?   Then, "...any idea what the winds were at your altitude?"

Edited August 16, 2022 by fppilot

[Mace 1,948]

Are your cowl flaps closed at altitude?

The developer of the C414 said that if you leave cowl flaps open at high altitudes it can over-cool the engine resulting in lower performance, this may be affecting your ground speed somewhat.

[Sceadu 117]

18 hours ago, Frag said:

Make sure you check the true ground speed on your GPS. The speed indicated on the air speed indicator on the dash dial is affected by the wind a lot. For example ... you could see 160 knots on the air speed indicator, but you would fly at a ground speed of 188.

 

 

 

You have that the wrong way round, its ground speed that is affected by wind not airspeed

Edited August 17, 2022 by Sceadu

[Beagle12 141]

Can you give me a quick description on how to set the power and mixture settings please ?

Something about ........... squared ?

[Yoda967 23]

Takeoff power: 41" MP at 2700 RPM

Climb power: 35" MP at 2500 RPM (mixture FULL RICH up to 20,000 feet and cowl flaps open)

Cruise power (20,000 - 21,000 feet): 34" MP and 2300 RPM. Cowl flaps closed, lean mixture to peak EGT, then advance the mixture levers to 75 degrees rich of peak EGT. (Yes, you can run lean of peak, but Continental recommends ROP.)

Descend at 500-1000 fpm, maintaining prop RPM and reducing manifold pressure by 1" per 1000 feet of descent. Keep the cowl flaps closed to avoid cooling the engines too quickly. I typically plan to start the approach at 21" MP and cruise RPM.

 

[Cpt_Piett 4,807]

1 hour ago, Yoda967 said:

Cruise power (20,000 - 21,000 feet): 34" MP and 2300 RPM. Cowl flaps closed, lean mixture to peak EGT, then advance the mixture levers to 75 degrees rich of peak EGT. (Yes, you can run lean of peak, but Continental recommends ROP.)

I've been running 31" MP and 2300 RPM at FL200. But I guess there's no reason why not to choose 34" for a higher cruise speed. I guess it also depends on how economical you have to be in terms of fuel burn. 

EDIT: At the moment I'm getting a TAS of 250 kts with the above settings at FL200. Must have a pretty decent tailwind 🙂

Edited August 17, 2022 by Cpt_Piett

[Yoda967 23]

Just now, Cpt_Piett said:

I've been running 31" MP and 2300 RPM at FL200. But I guess there's no reason why not to choose 34" for a higher cruise speed. I guess it also depends on how economical you have to be in terms of fuel burn. 

Agreed! 34" and 2300 RPM is 75% power for that altitude, which is max continuous power (per the Continental engine manual), and anything below that is purely up to the pilot. Your power setting saves about 13% fuel while sacrificing 4% of the speed...definitely a better choice if you're considering fuel costs.