Carenado PA-34, S-TEC AP Working??

[Treetops45 1,052]

Tried this inquiry on another forum & to date, no response, so I'll see if there are any Seneca fliers here.

I’ve tried 3 flights this morning & I can’t get the S-TEC AP to hold NAV or follow a HDG, even after running level & lining the aircraft on the Magenta Line, (NAV), & pointing it in the set HDG direction for HDG.
ALT hold also disconnects.
This is with the GNS 530 GPS, & the GTN 750Xi.
Are there known issues with the S-TEC AP, or a particular way to get it working? {I believe I am using the FD/AP On/Off rocker switch correctly}.
Any help appreciated.

T45

[turbomax 2,890]

\Official\OneStore\carenado-aircraft-pa34-senecav\SimObjects\Airplanes\Carenado_PA34_Seneca_V\Documentation\Carenado PA34T Autopilot.pdf

can you temporarily disable the TDS GTN 750Xi ? I don't have that TDS GTN 750Xi, and I don't have the autopilot issues that you mentioned with the S-TEC.

Edited September 19 by turbomax

[btacon 1,476]

2 hours ago, Treetops45 said:

Are there known issues with the S-TEC AP, or a particular way to get it working? {I believe I am using the FD/AP On/Off rocker switch correctly}.

I just had the chance to fly with my PA-34 / STEC AP / TDS 750GTNXi.  No issues with NAV, AP, Alt Hold, HDG.  Nothing. All were nominal. 

I was going to ask if you were turning on AP Master, but I think you addressed that. Full UP, right?

Are you seeing the AP functions in the annunciator?  Right now I have NAV, ALT, TRIM.  Do you have any?

-B

[Treetops45 1,052]

Thank you Gentlemen.

I did get an ok flight late yesterday & I suspect the issue may relate to which GPS choice I am making in the Tablet.

I need to run some short flights today to check a few things & then will let you know what I find.

T45

[Treetops45 1,052]

3 scenario short flights this morning.

Hot start. All from KFRG Rwy 01, to KISP, Rwy 06.

(1) Loaded up PT-SRD, using default GNS530/430 GPS. Flight plan shows in GPS.

Tablet: choose 'Ready for take off', no change to GPS.

Flight: Turn on AP, shows as RDY, see VS & can set a climb rate. When hit NAV, VS number disappears, but aircraft aligns on to magenta & holds VS rate.

So, VS, NAV, HDG & ALT HLD all worked, but nothing showing on S-Tec screen or Annunciator during the flight.

 

(2) As per (1), except on Tablet chose GTN 750 GPS & Ready For Take Off. Full flight plan shows up in the GPS

Flight outcome: Identical to (1). ie, AP worked but nothing showing on S-Tec screen or Annunciator during flight.

 

(3) As per (1), but on Tablet, Activated GTN 750Xi GPS. Needed to put destination into 750 flight plan.

Flight outcome: VS, NAV, HDG, ALT all showed up on S-Tec screen when they were used, & on Annunciator, except VS does not show on Annunciator.

 (1) & (2) screen non appearance issues may be related to presence  of GTN 750Xi, but I am not sure.

T45

[btacon 1,476]

Hey TT45, you might be best served by visiting the TDS and the PMS50 discords.  Lots of vendor help available but also the folks who hang out regularly are quite knowledgeable and from my observations over the years, they are quite helpful with thorny problems like these.

My 2 cents,

-B

Edited September 20 by btacon