Left Side of the Panel Before/After

[Chris from PA]

I upgraded the "shotgun" panel in my '65 C for a standard six pack and replaced my vacuum powered attitude indicator for a Sandia 340 Quattro. Here are the specifics:

Shop: Smart Avioncs, Donegal Springs, PA (N71)

Time: 9 working days (1 more than quoted)

Cost: 5.4 AMUs (as quoted)

I'm very happy with the installation job and Ben Smart was a pleasure to work with. However, the Sandia has been a disappointment. I've flown 6 flights and on half of them the Sandia "got lost" during takeoff and climb out. It gets stuck in about 20 degrees of bank and between 10 and 20 degrees of nose up pitch. When it works it's a very nice presentation but at this point I simply have to avoid IMC. To their credit, Sandia is sending a replacement and I'll do the swap in the next week or two.  I'll report back after the new instrument is installed and I get a chance to do some flying.

 

[MHemperly]

Looks nice! 

[Marauder]

I upgraded the "shotgun" panel in my '65 C for a standard six pack and replaced my vacuum powered attitude indicator for a Sandia 340 Quattro. Here are the specifics:

Shop: Smart Avioncs, Donegal Springs, PA (N71)

Time: 9 working days (1 more than quoted)

Cost: 5.4 AMUs (as quoted)

I'm very happy with the installation job and Ben Smart was a pleasure to work with. However, the Sandia has been a disappointment. I've flown 6 flights and on half of them the Sandia "got lost" during takeoff and climb out. It gets stuck in about 20 degrees of bank and between 10 and 20 degrees of nose up pitch. When it works it's a very nice presentation but at this point I simply have to avoid IMC. To their credit, Sandia is sending a replacement and I'll do the swap in the next week or two.  I'll report back after the new instrument is installed and I get a chance to do some flying.

 

When you going to one of our fly-ins? We have one at KUKT (Quakertown) this weekend.

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[StevenL757]

Very nice panel job Chris...things align there much nicer than the "before".

(So, for the KUKT fly-in, am I missing these fly-ins somewhere on this forum, or do I need to be part of a top-secret group to get these things in advance?)

[carusoam]

We have a Calender function that at least one fly-in has been placed...  Look for the key word calendar at the top of your screen.

Other than that,. It's a read, memorize and take notes affair!

Some of the larger Mooney fly-ins get a daily update as the date approaches.  These are easier to find.

 

 

Hey Chris, that panel looks nice!

Best regards,

 

[Marauder]

Very nice panel job Chris...things align there much nicer than the "before".

(So, for the KUKT fly-in, am I missing these fly-ins somewhere on this forum, or do I need to be part of a top-secret group to get these things in advance?)

This one is not a NJ Mooney Pilots getogether. It is run by the pilots over at Quakertown including Brian (orionflt) from this site. Usually a number of Mooney drivers show up.

Quakertown pilots Association Picnic at UKT

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emooneyspace%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3F%2Ftopic%2F19380-Quakertown-pilots-Association-Picnic-at-UKT&share_tid=19380&share_fid=55491&share_type=t

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[Raptor05121]

Chris, did the avionics shop cut the panel?

[Chris from PA]

Marauder, I'm looking forward to meeting the NJ gang but these days I'm gone most weekends. My wife is working in Augusta, GA so I fly down there almost weekly. She'll return after Thanksgiving, hopefully we'll join you after the holidays. 

Raptor, yes the shop cut the panel. 

[geoffb]

I did something similar, but kept the vacuum AI and lost the turn coordinator.  I'm not sure how mine Sandia is behaving on takeoff either.  Need to spend some more time looking at it during takeoff.  Also seems a little lazy around small angles of bank.  But again, need to grab someone to sit in the right seat while I stare at it for a while.

 

[carusoam]

Acceleration error..?

Something I read about studying for the IR.  But have never seen it on the attitude indicator.  

MP, FF, ASI, and looking out the window take up my excess cognitive capacity....

Best regards,

-a-

[DXB]

On 9/6/2016 at 6:16 PM, Chris from PA said:

I upgraded the "shotgun" panel in my '65 C for a standard six pack and replaced my vacuum powered attitude indicator for a Sandia 340 Quattro. Here are the specifics:

Shop: Smart Avioncs, Donegal Springs, PA (N71)

Time: 9 working days (1 more than quoted)

Cost: 5.4 AMUs (as quoted)

I'm very happy with the installation job and Ben Smart was a pleasure to work with. However, the Sandia has been a disappointment. I've flown 6 flights and on half of them the Sandia "got lost" during takeoff and climb out. It gets stuck in about 20 degrees of bank and between 10 and 20 degrees of nose up pitch. When it works it's a very nice presentation but at this point I simply have to avoid IMC. To their credit, Sandia is sending a replacement and I'll do the swap in the next week or two.  I'll report back after the new instrument is installed and I get a chance to do some flying.

Nice improvement at a modest price.  Ben Travis does a good job, doesn't gouge you, and sticks to his quote - he did an almost completely new panel for me about a year ago.  Also he's been generally responsive in dealing with the inevitable snags that come up.  Where are you based in Philly?  I'm at KPNE and have owned a '68 C just shy of two years. 

[Guest]

On September 6, 2016 at 6:16 PM, Chris from PA said:

I upgraded the "shotgun" panel in my '65 C for a standard six pack and replaced my vacuum powered attitude indicator for a Sandia 340 Quattro. Here are the specifics:

Shop: Smart Avioncs, Donegal Springs, PA (N71)

Time: 9 working days (1 more than quoted)

Cost: 5.4 AMUs (as quoted)

I'm very happy with the installation job and Ben Smart was a pleasure to work with. However, the Sandia has been a disappointment. I've flown 6 flights and on half of them the Sandia "got lost" during takeoff and climb out. It gets stuck in about 20 degrees of bank and between 10 and 20 degrees of nose up pitch. When it works it's a very nice presentation but at this point I simply have to avoid IMC. To their credit, Sandia is sending a replacement and I'll do the swap in the next week or two.  I'll report back after the new instrument is installed and I get a chance to do some flying.

 

A very nice transformation.  I think you are missing one mounting screw on the left side of the DG?

Clarence

[carusoam]

Clarence,

Do you have a call-sign?  Eagle Eye maybe?  

You are the best.

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

2 hours ago, carusoam said:

Clarence,

Do you have a call-sign?  Eagle Eye maybe?  

You are the best.

Best regards,

-a-

I was thinking Nit Picker would be more appropriate. I wish he would post a picture of his panel so we can return the favor.

[Chris from PA]

Carusoam, it does appear to be some sort of acceleration error although it is intermittent which has me a bit perplexed. I'm hoping it's a problem with the instrument itself and not some sort of installation isssue.

DXB, I'm also at PNE! I'm in the Atlantic hangars, E-1.

Clarence, you may be right, I'll check today when I'm at the hangar.

[carusoam]

Chris,

i simply googled attitude acceleration error.  Then picked this...

http://www.cfinotebook.net/notebook/avionics-and-instruments/attitude-indicator

there is. Section on the instrument's limitations.  There are both accel and decel errors.

Worn bearings could be a factor(?).  See how many hours this indicator has been functioning. They may have a TBO measured in khrs.

Best regards,

-a-

[geoffb]

The Sandia is a little short on bearings to wear.  I was wondering if it's the pitch presentation on the Quattro that's causing confusion.  The pitch ladder on the Quattro is much more sensitive (precise?) than the gyro, so the horizon bar moves significantly more at 5 deg up than the gyro does.  Just thinking with my keyboard.  I'll be flying later today and will spend some time looking at it.

Chris, is yours software rev 16?

[geoffb]

Chris, I doubt it's installation.  Not much to it, pitot, static and power.  If your airspeed indications make sense, that should give reasonable certainty that the plumbing is tight.  Everything else happens inside with accelerometers and software.

[FoxMike]

I have a Quattro and noticed small roll errors compared to my KI 256.  I just updated to 16 and believe the errors to be less or non existent.  Version 16 seems to clean up several problems so it is probably worth the downtime to update.

[carusoam]

Thanks Geoff!

i've got some funny memory issues.

Thinking about the old AI, while typing about the new AI.

 

Could be the new electronic bearings need some break-in time.....yea, that's the ticket! 

This is one of those situations where contacting the company with what you are seeing may get the ball rolling towards a solution.  Other people might be seeing the same thing.

As FoxMike indicates, sensitivity and program version may be important.

Best regards,

-a-

[DXB]

On 9/9/2016 at 6:52 AM, Chris from PA said:

Carusoam, it does appear to be some sort of acceleration error although it is intermittent which has me a bit perplexed. I'm hoping it's a problem with the instrument itself and not some sort of installation isssue.

DXB, I'm also at PNE! I'm in the Atlantic hangars, E-1.

Clarence, you may be right, I'll check today when I'm at the hangar.

Ha - I'm at Jet Center- explains why I've never run into you - I've never seen another short body Mooney on the field.  Will have to say hi sometime.