Fun Times.

[Guitarmaster]

So, while on my way home from work today, the HSI decided to take a dump.  Well, really, the KG102A.  No heading flag, it just stopped working.  

Of course, it happened on the first solid IFR day in awhile.  I was given a heading, started to turn and voila, no heading movement.  Fun.

This is really a testament to having a backup in the form of Stratus2 and Foreflight.  

When in hard IFR I always have the AHRS up just in case the vacuum fails.  Although I probably would have been able to shoot the VOR-A with the compass, foreflight and Stratus really made it easy to fly the approach to almost minimums.

So, now I have to decide if this is a good time to upgrade to Aspen or just get the KG102A overhauled.  

I can feel my wallet getting lighter by the minute!

[carusoam]

Great report, Matt.

I'm looking forward to the depth of the technical questions that come next.

Thanks for sharing,

-a-

[Marauder]

So, while on my way home from work today, the HSI decided to take a dump.  Well, really, the KG102A.  No heading flag, it just stopped working.  

Of course, it happened on the first solid IFR day in awhile.  I was given a heading, started to turn and voila, no heading movement.  Fun.

This is really a testament to having a backup in the form of Stratus2 and Foreflight.  

When in hard IFR I always have the AHRS up just in case the vacuum fails.  Although I probably would have been able to shoot the VOR-A with the compass, foreflight and Stratus really made it easy to fly the approach to almost minimums.

So, now I have to decide if this is a good time to upgrade to Aspen or just get the KG102A overhauled.  

I can feel my wallet getting lighter by the minute!

Before I went forward with an investment like an Aspen, I would look at the probability of you keeping the plane for several years or more. If there is any chance of upgrading within in the next 5 years, I would just have what you have repaired.

I know, blasphemy, coming from the guy with two Aspens. When I upgraded, I knew my F was the plane I was staying with into retirement. Making the justification easy. Well, as easy as can be for the kind of money we are talking about.

All that said, the Aspen will give you more than just an HSI replacement. You will get dual RMIs plus all of the navigation information displayed, not mention the moving map underneath the HSI. If your AP is capable, you will also get GPSS, which in my opinion was the best kept secret of the upgrade.

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[3914N]

Thank you for the writeup- I always enjoy reading posts like these because they are reminders to avoid complacency with IMC flying.

I'm glad to know that you had the Foreflight+Stratus combo available when you needed it... an excellent illustration of how technology can add safety in those unforseen circumstances.

Currently I'm flying with the semi-hacked "Stratux" receiver... the AHRS feature is still rather buggy but I think it will be vastly improved soon.

[Guitarmaster]

10 hours ago, Marauder said:

Before I went forward with an investment like an Aspen, I would look at the probability of you keeping the plane for several years or more. If there is any chance of upgrading within in the next 5 years, I would just have what you have repaired.

I know, blasphemy, coming from the guy with two Aspens. When I upgraded, I knew my F was the plane I was staying with into retirement. Making the justification easy. Well, as easy as can be for the kind of money we are talking about.

All that said, the Aspen will give you more than just an HSI replacement. You will get dual RMIs plus all of the navigation information displayed, not mention the moving map underneath the HSI. If your AP is capable, you will also get GPSS, which in my opinion was the best kept secret of the upgrade.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am really trying to be honest with myself about keeping the plane or upgrading,  No doubt, repairing what I have is the least $$ out of pocket, but if i decide this is plane to keep, then Aspen is the way to go value for the $$$.
I know this is blaspheme, but I do have my eye on an experimental that my F (Riley) might get traded in for.  I am watching the development closely.  
Right now, I am leaning toward simply having the KG102A overhauled to the tune of about $1800.

Chris, I don't have a WAAS GPS.  I fly with it at work and I agree, RNP (GPSS) approaches are awesome!  I have no doubt they will replace all ground-based navigation within 20 years.  

For now, I am excited about getting the EDM-700 installed at annual!

[Marauder]

10 hours ago, Marauder said: Before I went forward with an investment like an Aspen, I would look at the probability of you keeping the plane for several years or more. If there is any chance of upgrading within in the next 5 years, I would just have what you have repaired.

I know, blasphemy, coming from the guy with two Aspens. When I upgraded, I knew my F was the plane I was staying with into retirement. Making the justification easy. Well, as easy as can be for the kind of money we are talking about.

All that said, the Aspen will give you more than just an HSI replacement. You will get dual RMIs plus all of the navigation information displayed, not mention the moving map underneath the HSI. If your AP is capable, you will also get GPSS, which in my opinion was the best kept secret of the upgrade.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am really trying to be honest with myself about keeping the plane or upgrading,  No doubt, repairing what I have is the least $$ out of pocket, but if i decide this is plane to keep, then Aspen is the way to go value for the $$$.

I know this is blaspheme, but I do have my eye on an experimental that my F (Riley) might get traded in for.  I am watching the development closely.  

Right now, I am leaning toward simply having the KG102A overhauled to the tune of about $1800.

Chris, I don't have a WAAS GPS.  I fly with it at work and I agree, RNP (GPSS) approaches are awesome!  I have no doubt they will replace all ground-based navigation within 20 years.  

For now, I am excited about getting the EDM-700 installed at annual!

It is a shame that the experimental avionics are not available to us. The certified solutions just put you into a commitment level that, unless you plan on keeping the plane for a while, are hard to justify.

My role model is Bob Belville. He is living my retirement dream! I have him set up on FlightAware and his trips during my workday help me get through another Excel laden, email infested day at the cube farm.

I've learned that whatever steed you are riding, it is important to enjoy the ride that so many others never get to.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Guitarmaster]

1 hour ago, Marauder said:

It is a shame that the experimental avionics are not available to us. The certified solutions just put you into a commitment level that, unless you plan on keeping the plane for a while, are hard to justify.

My role model is Bob Belville. He is living my retirement dream! I have him set up on FlightAware and his trips during my workday help me get through another Excel laden, email infested day at the cube farm.

I've learned that whatever steed you are riding, it is important to enjoy the ride that so many others never get to.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yea.  My last ground school had two feds in it. During the break I asked specifically about the part 23 stuff.  He said it is still in the works, but kind of a back burner project.  I reiterated to him that I wished it would come soon as the aging GA fleet could really benefit from the SAFETY of the new technologies available to experimental at a reasonable price, but not to certificated.  I explained it just doesn't make sense to install $40,000 worth of avionics in a $45,000 airplane.
HE understood and gave me speech about how slow the FAA moves and apologized.  
In an case, it would be nice, if nothing else, to be able to install "experimental" avionics, that are far better then TSO offerings at a fraction of the price.

All that being said, I just did a KG102A exchange with PSI instruments.  $1495.00.  Sucks, but better than $14000.00.   Of course, my panel will not look as cool yours!  :/

Pretty much all the avionics have been repaired, replaced or overhauled.  It should be a good, solid IFR bird now.   

[Marauder]

1 hour ago, Marauder said: It is a shame that the experimental avionics are not available to us. The certified solutions just put you into a commitment level that, unless you plan on keeping the plane for a while, are hard to justify.

My role model is Bob Belville. He is living my retirement dream! I have him set up on FlightAware and his trips during my workday help me get through another Excel laden, email infested day at the cube farm.

I've learned that whatever steed you are riding, it is important to enjoy the ride that so many others never get to.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yea.  My last ground school had two feds in it. During the break I asked specifically about the part 23 stuff.  He said it is still in the works, but kind of a back burner project.  I reiterated to him that I wished it would come soon as the aging GA fleet could really benefit from the SAFETY of the new technologies available to experimental at a reasonable price, but not to certificated.  I explained it just doesn't make sense to install $40,000 worth of avionics in a $45,000 airplane.

HE understood and gave me speech about how slow the FAA moves and apologized.  

In an case, it would be nice, if nothing else, to be able to install "experimental" avionics, that are far better then TSO offerings at a fraction of the price.

All that being said, I just did a KG102A exchange with PSI instruments.  $1495.00.  Sucks, but better than $14000.00.   Of course, my panel will not look as cool yours!  :/

Pretty much all the avionics have been repaired, replaced or overhauled.  It should be a good, solid IFR bird now.   

I've been meaning to ask you about the MP/FP gauge I sold you. Hope it is working out okay.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Guitarmaster]

17 minutes ago, Marauder said:

I've been meaning to ask you about the MP/FP gauge I sold you. Hope it is working out okay.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Working great!  It is so much easier to set the power when I can see what MP is being set.   

[Guitarmaster]

Thought I would follow up.

I did an OH exchange on the KG102A with PSI Instruments.  Interestingly, the new gyro would not pull the HDG flag but would rotate the card.  

After a few calls to Rick at PSI to do some troubleshooting, I finally got it nailed down to running on battery voltage.  When I plugged in a charger and the voltage increased above 12v, the flag went bye, bye!  Now, all works well.

Big time happy dance!   Kudos to Rick and the gang over at PSI!  $1,500, a three-day turn around and troubleshooting help on top of it!

Now on to the all the upgrades I got for Christmas

 

[DAVIDWH]

How is that new fangled synthetic vision on the I-pad working out?

Just downloaded.

[jbs007]

How long did you have the kg102a before it failed? What mods did it have? How'd it fail? I know you might not know these... I'm curious because I have one I am about to install with a sandel 3500. Thanks

[Guitarmaster]

9 hours ago, DAVIDWH said:

How is that new fangled synthetic vision on the I-pad working out?

Just downloaded.

I don't use SV.  Although I think I will add SV when I renew this year.

 

[Guitarmaster]

5 hours ago, jbs007 said:

How long did you have the kg102a before it failed? What mods did it have? How'd it fail? I know you might not know these... I'm curious because I have one I am about to install with a sandel 3500. Thanks

It was very old.  It was in the plane when I bought it.  Overhaul date was 1987 and it was a serial number 38xx.  Mod 1 on the gyro was done.  Mod 3 on the square part.  According to PSI, as long as the "coffee can" has mod 1 done, it can be overhauled regardless of age.  If there is no sticker on the top, remove the coffee can via the three screws on the shock mount and look on the underside.

It failed by refusing to move the compass card on the HSI.  Oddly enough, The HDG flag never showed itself.  It just stopped turning.  The KG102A  was making noise prior to this happening so I know it's lifespan was short.  It is weird that it didn't show the flag so I think mine had other problems in addition to the gyro.

 

[jbs007]

Thanks for all the info!  Very helpful.

Edited December 31, 2015 by jbs007