KFC 150 AP

[pilot716]

So the saga continues with the faulty auto trim on our KFC 150...It has been a year and half...alot of $$ and no fix...Engine back in, annual complete, Bird painted and still cant get the auto trim to work...We have swapped out the computer, the pitch servo, trim servo, checked wiring, refurbed the pitch servo and still the same...

I have spoken with AP Central tech's, Bendix King tech...The AP flies a great coupled approach as long as you help it along with manual trim.. I am just looking for some out of the box thinking and suggestions? or any one else ever have this?

 

[carqwik]

Fly your plane to Tulsa...I pursued a problem with the VS/Alt Hold in my KFC 150 and horsed around with various "fixes" for about 18 months as well....never fixed.  Finally got so ticked off I called A/P Central for an appointment (a 3 month wait). They found the problem in an hour, and fixed it by the end of the day.  (Turned out it was a cold solder joint in the computer somewhere....).  Let me review though the fixes attempted prior to visiting Tulsa....Attitude Indicator OH'd, altimeter innards cleaned and checked, flight computer sent to Honeywell for bench test (tested ok...just goes to show what a waste that was given that there was a problem in the computer which they didn't find!), bridle cable tightened, pitch trim servo checked, etc.  Lesson learned...don't waste time trying to figure it out hit or miss...just take the plane to Tulsa.   

[PTK]

"Some things are best left to professionals."

[pilot716]

Well I figured after leaving it to 4 professionals I would have received an answer or fix. We may just have to set that up for this coming fall, and take it to AP central. We actually swiped out the entire computer in flight and the replacement did the same thing.

[gjkirsch]

I had a similiar problem and it was hard grease on the jack screw.

[flyboy0681]

Quote: gjkirsch

I had a similiar problem and it was hard grease on the jack screw.

[Amelia]

I'm having a problem with a broken auto-trim gizmo, which means that it doesn't trim downward well, and disconnecting the autopilot on reaching altitude results in a sharp jerk upward, which then must be trimmed out.  PITB. But the cure for said pain is even more painful. sigh.  If anybody has a KAP 150 spare part for which I forget the name, do let me know!

[Bolter]

Quote: carqwik

Fly your plane to Tulsa...I pursued a problem with the VS/Alt Hold in my KFC 150 and horsed around with various "fixes" for about 18 months as well....never fixed.  Finally got so ticked off I called A/P Central for an appointment (a 3 month wait). They found the problem in an hour, and fixed it by the end of the day.  (Turned out it was a cold solder joint in the computer somewhere....).  Let me review though the fixes attempted prior to visiting Tulsa....Attitude Indicator OH'd, altimeter innards cleaned and checked, flight computer sent to Honeywell for bench test (tested ok...just goes to show what a waste that was given that there was a problem in the computer which they didn't find!), bridle cable tightened, pitch trim servo checked, etc.  Lesson learned...don't waste time trying to figure it out hit or miss...just take the plane to Tulsa.   

[Mooney_Allegro]

About 5 years ago I had an issue where my J model with the KFC150 AP would abruptly pitch up. This lasted over a year with 4 different repair shops assuring me they would fix the problem & knew exactly what needed to be fixed. Almost $5000 later and their "fixes" never worked.  Someone told me about Autopilot Central and I flew the Mooney there and it was fixed within a week. The problem was internally with the KI-256 attitude indicator and it was a broken slip ring. 

I hope I don't have another autopilot issue because Bob Ferguson of Autopilot Central advised me that he wouldn't work on my plane again since I didn't get my G-600, 430/530 installed with his shop.  I put in a completely new panel about a year after my Autopilot problem. I think he took it personal that I didn't have the new panel installed with him.  

[jackn]

You might want to check with Griffen Avionics in Chatam, MA. On Cape Cod. They have a good reputation with A/P.

[pilot716]

Quote: carqwik

Fly your plane to Tulsa...I pursued a problem with the VS/Alt Hold in my KFC 150 and horsed around with various "fixes" for about 18 months as well....never fixed.  Finally got so ticked off I called A/P Central for an appointment (a 3 month wait). They found the problem in an hour, and fixed it by the end of the day.  (Turned out it was a cold solder joint in the computer somewhere....).  Let me review though the fixes attempted prior to visiting Tulsa....Attitude Indicator OH'd, altimeter innards cleaned and checked, flight computer sent to Honeywell for bench test (tested ok...just goes to show what a waste that was given that there was a problem in the computer which they didn't find!), bridle cable tightened, pitch trim servo checked, etc.  Lesson learned...don't waste time trying to figure it out hit or miss...just take the plane to Tulsa.   

I may just have to resort to that...My A&P actually sent our pitch servo to them for overhaul first, that was a $1200 deal....We also had the jackscrew cleaned and checked, so it wasnt that...Just annoyed it hasnt been fixed.

[pilot716]

I have an appointment with Griifen avionics on 9/14...we shall see what happens.