Century 41 auto pilot

[goodyFAB]

Can anyone recommend a place to start, a shop, or anything for an issue I am having with my autopilot… 

it’s a century 41 

I have a “fail” light on my annunciator panel and I have not been able to find anyone yet, who knows what to do. 
 

im not yet ready to upgrade AP but would be really nice to figure this one out-  

We have any autopilot gurus around ?

 

[goodyFAB]

Here’s the problem : 

I have no experience with this autopilot when it worked properly. 
 

I bought the plane knowing it didn’t work but thought it would be easier to figure out. 
 

As time goes on I really want the auto pilot to work…. Go figure. 

[1980Mooney]

1 hour ago, goodyFAB said:

Here’s the problem : 

I have no experience with this autopilot when it worked properly. 
 

I bought the plane knowing it didn’t work but thought it would be easier to figure out. 
 

As time goes on I really want the auto pilot to work…. Go figure. 

I have a Missile conversion with a Century 41.  Does it show "Fail" all the time or only when you perform the "Test" on the ground holding the button while it sequences?

I had some issues with the servos about 15 years ago and also sent the computer to Autopilots Central in OK. It has worked like a champ since.  

[1980Mooney]

1 hour ago, goodyFAB said:

Here’s the problem : 

I have no experience with this autopilot when it worked properly. 
 

I bought the plane knowing it didn’t work but thought it would be easier to figure out. 
 

As time goes on I really want the auto pilot to work…. Go figure. 

You could also have simple connector issues which may be hard to find

https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/troubleshooting-old-century-autopilots/

[A64Pilot]

I too have a Century 41 that works sometimes.

‘I’ve been told my best bet is to plan a flt to Oklahoma, take them the airplane. I’ve not yet done that

[carusoam]

1) Try to contact the good people at Century… they seem to be still around….

2) We have a couple of good AP people around here… one is Mostly BK solutions….

The other is @Jake@BevanAviation So I invited Jake… to see if he knows anything about Century 41 APs…

 

Somebody, yesterday, was seeking answers for Century parts…   Easy solution, because the part that he knew was broken wasn’t specific to Century…

Soooo…. If you find a broken connector… find Greg at Baker Avionics….  
 

Best regards,

-a-

[Jake@BevanAviation]

@goodyFAB The main problem with the Century 41 system is that Century is no longer supplying parts for the majority of the assemblies.  This applies to all legacy systems they produced. Without the correct parts repairs will be extremely limited. The last discussion I had with the owner of Century Flight System they stated that they were no longer doing repairs at the factory.  The Century 41 flight computer is full of ribbon cables that delaminate over time and cause major issues when trying to repair the unit.  The last Century 41 I sent to Century for repair which had alot of ribbon cable issues and other board assembly issues came back with a 9k estimate for repair. This was a couple of years ago before they shut down factory repairs.

I do have the test set and the manual for the Century 41 system but depending on the failure, parts might not be available. I would not be surprised to find delaminated ribbon cables inside the unit and I do not have any replacement cables for the Century 41.  You can contact Autopilot Central and see what they say but they will have the same issue I have with parts unless they have a supply of new parts available.  Century Flight Systems are in a pretty bad spot, with personnel retiring and no new trained techs for legacy systems available, no new products to market, it looks pretty dim for the future.

What I tell any customer that has a Century 21, 31, 41 or 2000 is if the system is still working keep it going, but start saving for a future upgrade as part availability will severely limit the systems ability to be repaired and supported.

 

[haymak3r]

9 hours ago, carusoam said:

1) Try to contact the good people at Century… they seem to be still around….

2) We have a couple of good AP people around here… one is Mostly BK solutions….

The other is @Jake@BevanAviation So I invited Jake… to see if he knows anything about Century 41 APs…

 

Somebody, yesterday, was seeking answers for Century parts…   Easy solution, because the part that he knew was broken wasn’t specific to Century…

Soooo…. If you find a broken connector… find Greg at Baker Avionics….  
 

Best regards,

-a-

That was me! I had a broken plug going in to the AP control unit in the tail section. The lock ring broke in 3 places for it. This is what I ordered IF it turns out to be something that easy:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TE-Connectivity/205842-1?qs=YjfTF6B0u0pnkv7Jxzh2Mw%3D%3D&countryCode=US&currencyCode=USD

[goodyFAB]

4 hours ago, Jake@BevanAviation said:

@goodyFAB The main problem with the Century 41 system is that Century is no longer supplying parts for the majority of the assemblies.  This applies to all legacy systems they produced. Without the correct parts repairs will be extremely limited. The last discussion I had with the owner of Century Flight System they stated that they were no longer doing repairs at the factory.  The Century 41 flight computer is full of ribbon cables that delaminate over time and cause major issues when trying to repair the unit.  The last Century 41 I sent to Century for repair which had alot of ribbon cable issues and other board assembly issues came back with a 9k estimate for repair. This was a couple of years ago before they shut down factory repairs.

I do have the test set and the manual for the Century 41 system but depending on the failure, parts might not be available. I would not be surprised to find delaminated ribbon cables inside the unit and I do not have any replacement cables for the Century 41.  You can contact Autopilot Central and see what they say but they will have the same issue I have with parts unless they have a supply of new parts available.  Century Flight Systems are in a pretty bad spot, with personnel retiring and no new trained techs for legacy systems available, no new products to market, it looks pretty dim for the future.

What I tell any customer that has a Century 21, 31, 41 or 2000 is if the system is still working keep it going, but start saving for a future upgrade as part availability will severely limit the systems ability to be repaired and supported.

 

I will dig into it and see what I can find. 

this things is such a low time air frame <2500 tt im hoping its something simple. I have yet to find anything worn out really, every light bulb, every switch, every button works, just getting a fail on the AP annunciator 

 

[RideOrFly]

I contacted Century's technical support people a few months back and they went out of their way to help me diagnose a problem over the phone. 

I realize it won't help you diagnose the problem, but I'll have a Century 41 coming out of my plane in the next few weeks. Hoping to sell it to someone who needs some parts. Let me know if you're interested.

[Q The Engineer]

I am not a Century 41 expert but I have one in my 231.  Here's a copy of the manual I have.   If you can't get it sorted I'd call Bill Roundtree in Anderson, IN.  He's super busy so it may take a while but he's super good. One of the very few I would trust to work on mine.  You can reach Bill on 317 688 6308.  

Century 4 autopilot manual.pdf CENTURY 41 Autopilot POH.pdf

[FlyWalt]

Quick, unrelated question. Is it possible to get GPSS Steering out of a Century 4?

[N201MKTurbo]

41 minutes ago, FlyWalt said:

Quick, unrelated question. Is it possible to get GPSS Steering out of a Century 4?

The easiest way is probably replacing your HSI with a G5.

[stevesm20b]

1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

The easiest way is probably replacing your HSI with a G5.

I don't think the G5 works with legacy autopilots. The GI275 will work with legacy autopilots.

[N201MKTurbo]

24 minutes ago, stevesm20b said:

I don't think the G5 works with legacy autopilots. The GI275 will work with legacy autopilots.

Sure they do. I have a G5 hooked to my CIIb autopilot and the GPSS works great.

What you are thinking about is the G5 cannot be used as the autopilot attitude gyro. It can be used as the autopilot heading gyro, which is what you need for GPSS.

[Q The Engineer]

3 hours ago, FlyWalt said:

Quick, unrelated question. Is it possible to get GPSS Steering out of a Century 4?

I'm told yes from Roundtree.  I'm planning on integrating my 530WAAS with the Century 41 using the factory HSI.   If anything changes I'll let you know. 

[LANCECASPER]

14 minutes ago, Aaron Q said:

I'm told yes from Roundtree.  I'm planning on integrating my 530WAAS with the Century 41 using the factory HSI.   If anything changes I'll let you know. 

If you don't use a G5 or Aspen then you need a "box" in between for the GPSS. (https://www.aviationconsumer.com/aircraftreviews/gpss-retrofits-automation-to-the-max/)

[Q The Engineer]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

If you don't use a G5 or Aspen then you need a "box" in between for the GPSS. (https://www.aviationconsumer.com/aircraftreviews/gpss-retrofits-automation-to-the-max/)

Thanks

[1980Mooney]

I just called Century Flight Systems in Mineral Wells.  Both the "800" number and their local number are no longer in service - just a recording that "The number you dialed is not a working number".  I suppose it is possible that someone is there with a cell phone but I think it doubtful.  More likely Century Flight Systems is history like so much of General Aviation.

For those of us with Century autopilots, if you have any problems be prepared to scrounge used parts or get ready to write a big check.