Service difficulty report · Autopilot Sys · Cessna TR182

Difficulty date
March 12, 2004
Submitted
March 13, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N738QV
Make and model
Cessna TR182
Aircraft serial
R18200955
Aircraft time
1,400 hours
Engine
Lyc O540L3C5
Engine time
1,400 hours
Part
Autopilot Sys
Part number
55X
Condition
Inoperative
Location
Cockpit
Part time
300 hours
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

IN APR AND NAV MODE, AUTOPILOT WILL NOT PROPERLY INTERCEPT AND TRACK LOCALIZER AND/OR VOR SIGNAL. AUTOPILOT WILL SCALLOP ACROSS COURSE. AUTOPILOT HAS BEEN SENT IN FOR EVALUATION. WE HAVE EVALUATED OUR PN-101 HSI TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE THE SOURCE. AFTER EVALUATIONS THE AUTOPILOT IS SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN FLAPS AND GEAR ARE EXTENDED ON APPROACH, AUTOPILOT WILL PITCH UP AND DOWN WILDLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE INSTALLATION AND ON-SITE EVALUATION. AWARE OF SEVERAL OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AUTOPILOT NEEDS TO BE FULLY RE-EVALUATED BY THE FAA AND MANUFACTURER.

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