PC wing leveler and Accutrak 2

[silent101]

Hello,

I currently have the PC wing leveler and Accutrak 2 installed in my 67 F model. How well does this system work for the rest of you? My wing leveler will hold the wings level if I am in very steady air but will not keep the ball centered and I am forced to hold the rudder. In any kind of turbulence it’s all over the place. When tracking a VOR the system will rock back and forth trying to track the CDI. Is this how this autopilot is supposed to function because it’s old or is my autopilot not completely functioning properly? Also can this autopilot be slaved to a KMD 150 MFD with gps and track the route?

                                                                                                                                           thanks,

                                                                                                                                                        Rob

[danb35]

I also have an Accutrak 2 in my '67 F, and it works very well.  If your GPS has a CDI output, it should be able to drive the autopilot--mine is coupled to a Garmin 430W.

[N601RX]

Mine works really well.  As Dan mentioned if the nav signal to the the CDI is noisy or not stable, it will not work very well.  I can switch mine between a Kx155, KNS 80 and KLN 94 and they all provide a stable signal. 

It is a add on to the basic wing leveler, so if there are any problems with the wing leveler, the autopilot will not work correctly. Based on what you said about it only keeping the wings level in smooth air I would suspect a problem with the basic wing leveler.  Most of these problems are leaks in the boots or lines.

 

It can be connected to any nav source that has Left+ and Right+ outputs.

[HRM]

ello,

I currently have the PC wing leveler and Accutrak 2 installed in my 67 F model. How well does this system work for the rest of you? My wing leveler will hold the wings level if I am in very steady air but will not keep the ball centered and I am forced to hold the rudder. In any kind of turbulence it’s all over the place. When tracking a VOR the system will rock back and forth trying to track the CDI. Is this how this autopilot is supposed to function because it’s old or is my autopilot not completely functioning properly? Also can this autopilot be slaved to a KMD 150 MFD with gps and track the route?

                                                                                                                                           thanks,

                                                                                                                                                        Rob

 

I have the Brittain PC and it works flawlessly. Some points:

 

• Saved my bacon once when I inadvertently flew into IMC (don't ask) and found myself in the classic "death spiral".

 

• CFII commented to me: "Your's rudder skills are superb!" when I very rarely use rudder--he did not know what the PC system was.

 

Yours may need a sensor adjustment or some other sort of repair.

[takair]

Mine works flawlessly as well. If the ball is out of center, may want to start with the servo boots in the tail.

[scottfromiowa]

FYI brittain is close to having altitude hold ready for purchase. PCM, accutrac combined with rudder servos makes for a nice auto pilot " on the cheep". Contact brittain and get on their list...

[N601RX]

I installed the Accutrack, Accuflite and altitude hold last year. The Accutrack and Accuflite work perfectly. The altitude hold works well, but will drift a few feet over several minutes. The altitude hold is a completely air system, (no electronics) so considering that and the low cost I'm not complaining.

[silent101]

Just went to the airport today to have a look at the plane and the front (one closest to the back seat) rudder "servo" or boot is definitely ripped and leaking vacuum. I cant believe I have been flying this aircraft for two years just thinking it was normal. This also goes to show that Mooney service centers I have went too don't really look at autopilot parts. Is Brittian the best place to get the rubber boot repaired? Anyone know any price or lead time on this part?

[N601RX]

Send it back to Brittain. They are not that expensive. I would 1st check the other 3. You may need more than one. You can also find small holes by disconnecting the tube and placing your finger over it while pulling out on the servo. It should not leak. Even a small leak will affect how well it works.

[Hank]

Check them all. Brittain fixed a tear in my left wing servo last December for $124 + shipping. May as well make one shipment just in case more need to be fixed.

[silent101]

Where are the wing servos located? Also it looks like the KMD 150 can connect to the accutrak 2 which sounds like it would be a great poor mans autopilot.

[N601RX]

Remove the inspection panel closest to the pushrod that goes out to the aileron.  A handheld vac pump from a auto parts store is also very useful for making sure no leaks remain.  You can plug it onto the red and green tube where the pilots side panel meets the side skin of the plane.   It takes several pumps to bring the aileron down, but you can pump until the aileron is down and the watch the gauge on the pump to make sure it is not leaking anymore.  If its leaking the leak can be further isolated by connecting the same pump to each side of the T fitting in the baggage compartment.  The T is where the tubing splits and one line goes back to the tail and the other goes out to the wing.

 

The brittain system works by controlling and balancing the suction flow between the Left and Right Servos.  It cannot do this if there are any leaks present. So be sure that all the leaks are fixed before anyone makes any other adjustments to the system. It's a cheap and easy system to maintain and works great.

[rbs4159]

We just installed AccuFlite and Accutrak on my '68 C. The PC system worked perfectly before, and I can't imagine flying without it. The AccuTrak works great, but like every other VOR tracking system I have flown, when close to the VOR it oscillates slightly back and forth chasing the CDI, but I'm sure that's due to the VOR, not the autopilot. In manual turn and heading track, the turns are almost a perfect 120-second standard rate. My only remaining problem is a DG that rolls out and tracks 10-11 degrees left of the heading bug at all headings, but holds the heading perfectly. The DG is an overhauled unit, which we and Brittain think is the problem, but I'm tempted to placard it and leave it alone rather than pulling it and sending it back to the overhauler for adjustment. I just located the altitude hold controller part No 12000 but still need the plumbing diagram and other cpomponents to add that to my system. Anyone have the installation and maintenance manuals for altitude hold in PDF they can email me?

[takair]

RBS

Have you tried turning on the AccuFlite and Accutrack at the same time? That may damp out some of the oscillation when over the "zone of of confusion". If it doesn't, you could simply shut off the nav portion and fly theough it on the heading bug alone. I typically use the two together, but I am typically using GPS which does not have this issue. The Brittain manuals mention this, but don't spend allot of time on the subject. It flies like a more sophisticated autopilot that is coupled to the HSI. It finds its crosswind correction faster. In heavy crosswinds you may need to offset the heading bug a few degrees into the wind to keep the needle centered. Regarding the heading offset, there is an adjustment for it within the Brittain system, however, I assume you may have tried this if Brittain says it is the DG.

[rbs4159]

Thanks for the input, good idea. I can't recall if I have both AccuFlite and AccuTrak on at the same time in this situation (I don't think so, I think I've been flying either-or), but I can see where that might help damp the oscillations especially as I get closer to the VOR where the radials are so close together, I'll try it. My A&P tried adjusting the DG controller but it didn't help, then he called Brittain, who suggested the DG is probably the problem. We'll check that out next, although the DG is a major hassle to get in and out and I'm tempted to placard it for a 10 degree error and leave it alone, but that doesn't feel very good. I've got to give a plug to everyone at Brittain, especially Kevin, who have gone abocve and beyond reasonable expectations in helping me and my A&P. I'm rounding up the pitch/altitude hold components now. Stay tuned  - 

[TravelVeteran]

Any tips on how to use this Accutrak? i dont even know how to engage/test it in flight. tried messing with the silver button on the yoke, VOR, Nav, etc. 

[0TreeLemur]

This assumes your PC system is working.  It seems that you only have one CDI (Nav 1).  The Accutrak receives input from your CDI in most (all?) cases.    If you had a second CDI that would be Nav 2.  

Go fly.  Center the CDI on a GPS track or VOR radial to some distant point.   Switch it on (TRAK=ON).  It should keep you on course.   I find setting SENS to LO is sufficient.  No altitude hold function so you'll need to do that.

Hope it works!  If so, its awesome.  If not, troubleshooting expertise on those abounds on MS.

Fred

[TravelVeteran]

5 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

This assumes your PC system is working.  It seems that you only have one CDI (Nav 1).  The Accutrak receives input from your CDI in most (all?) cases.    If you had a second CDI that would be Nav 2.  

Go fly.  Center the CDI on a GPS track or VOR radial to some distant point.   Switch it on (TRAK=ON).  It should keep you on course.   I find setting SENS to LO is sufficient.  No altitude hold function so you'll need to do that.

Hope it works!  If so, its awesome.  If not, troubleshooting expertise on those abounds on MS.

Fred

awesome i will try this! 

[Igor_U]

Is your PC (Wing leveler) working at all?

silver button on the steering wheel is the valve to release the vacuum from the system and allow for easier turns. try if it works; you can pull it partially out of the seat and see rolling forces on the wheel should be lower.

You can test if accutrak is working without input signal. Turn it ON (without selecting Nav 1 or 2) and use turn button to see if it will bank and turn. 

I see you have King GPS as well. This could be connected to the Accutrak (as Nav 2?) and would follow the GPS track with better precession then CDI. You should try it the same way as 0tree suggested to test CDI input. I am sure you can adjust GPS output to reduce or increase width of the track deviation. This affected precision of my Garmin/ Accutrack combo; you don't wan to be too sloppy but the smallest setting created to much of a corrections. I can't remember what my setting is, though.

Hi and low Sensitivity should be tested as well.  

 

Good luck.