Service difficulty report · Autopilot Sys · Bombdr DHC8400

Difficulty date
April 27, 2014
Submitted
March 12, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bombdr DHC8400
Engine
Pwc PW150A
Part
Autopilot Sys
Condition
Malfunctioned
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING APPROACH, THE ACFT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE FMS RT TURN. 1 SECOND LATER THE AUTO PILOT DISCONNECT WARNING SOUNDED WITH ILLUMINATION OF LIGHTS. THE AUTOPILOT DIS BUTTON WAS PUSHED TO SILENCE THE WARNING WHILE AN ATTEMPT TO FLY THE ACFT BACK ON COARSE BY HAND WAS NEGATED BY THE CONTROLS BEING LOCKED. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT PUSHING THE AUTOPILOT DIS BUTTON ON THE YOKE DID NOT RELEASE THE CONTROLS. ONE SECOND LATER THE ACFT WAS IN A 5 DEGREE LT BANK AND STILL DESCENDING WITH THE CONTROLS LOCKED. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS LATER THE CONTROLS ABRUPTLY RELEASES WITH A RT TURN AND FLEW NORMALLY TO TOUCH DOWN A FEW MINUTES LATER. NO CAUTION OR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL OTHER THAN THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE A/P DISCONNECT. THE A/P WAS NEVER RE ENGAGED.