AP issues
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So, I'm cruising at about 50,000 feet and the AP suddenly switches off. No lights on the trim panel, so I reset the AP and turn the power for the AP back on.
It's been 10 minutes and it still hasn't switched to 'Ready'.
Am I missing something here?
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All right, so I'm using the Auto AEO thing and it looks like a chunk of power is gone. Airbrake indicator is white with the brakes in, all the tanks show empty...
Nooooot sure I'm overly trusting of the Automatic AEO right now. Followed everything by the book. sigh
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@Pilot-Pyles Since the aircraft requires a multitude of complex procedures to be done right for everything to work, I personally would advise you to do all the steps yourself rather than trusting the Auto AEO. That way, you'll also be aware of exactly what you have pressed or done and troubleshooting mid-air is much easier and systematic.
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@Pilot-Pyles If the autopilot has been disconnected via non-normal means, then the autopilot reset switch will need to be toggled on the starboard console to reapply electrical power to the autopilot. Once the autopilot has electrical power, the POWER knob can then be pulled and after a short delay, the READY MI will show white. If this doesn't happen, then it does sound like you've had some sort of event in the aircraft that has caused a loss of electrical power.
This isn't something that I have reported with the AUTO AEO so far, and we do have triggers in place such as altitude restrictions to prevent the AEO from innocently triggering at the incorrect stages of flight, but if for whatever reason the aircraft thought it was at a lower altitude or on the ground, the AUTO AEO may start shutting down the systems. From the current set of triggers, the AUTO AEO should not be active at all when the aircraft is above 20,000ft.
Unfortunately, until we can reproduce this there likely isn't much we will be able to do, but if you do see this issue again, could send us a video of it occurring, as well as a screenshot of the forward cockpit and the AEO station? That would be very useful to us as we will be able to see what electrical system has been effected and then we can add extra triggers to try and prevent it from occur again.
Mark - Just Flight
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@Mark It's a weird one. I shut down not long after, but it was 110% a power issue (hence the fuel gauges and the air brake indicator). I'd reset the autopilot about 10 times, pulled the POWER knob and waiting a looooong time for the READY MI to show white.
Assuming something had changed at the AEO station, you could be running on battery from below 20,000 feet to where I was, no? I was getting some weird lag spikes, so I'm guessing it was something to do with that.
I'll grab some screenshots of the stations next time.
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The autopilot and most of the systems would be powered off if the aircraft switched to just the battery when passing 20,000ft, as the battery only provides minimal electrical supply to the aircraft. So if it was related to that trigger, Ithe effects of a loss of electrical would occur instantly as you pass through 20,000ft, not delayed until the aircraft is cruising a 50,000ft.
It may be the AUTO AEO sensing a false trigger due to a lag spike, or it may be a control assignment that has been unknowingly triggered that has removed the electrical power, but we should be able to narrow it down further once we see what the state of the AEO station is.
Mark - Just Flight
