Service difficulty report · Autopilot Sys · Cessna 421C

Difficulty date
December 26, 2012
Submitted
December 31, 2012
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N56RX
Make and model
Cessna 421C
Aircraft serial
421C0207
Aircraft time
11,102 hours
Engine
Cont GTSIO520L
Engine time
1,068 hours
Propeller
Mcauly 3FF32C501
Part
Autopilot Sys
Condition
Malfunctioned
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
G, F
Precautionary procedure
H, A

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

What was found

PASSING THROUGH 8000FT MSL, THE AUTOPILOT SYS WENT INTO AN UNCOMMANDED NOSE PITCH OVER RAPID DESCENT. PILOT TRIED THE AUTOPILOT DISCONNECT SWITCH WHILE TRYING TO ARREST THE DESCENT WITH THE ELEVATOR BACK PRESSURE. SWITCH DID NOT DISENGAGE THE AUTOPILOT. TRIED THE SWITCH AGAIN, BUT IT DID NOT DISCONNECT. PILOT TRIED THE GO-AROUND SWITCH AND DISABLED THE ELECTRIC TRIM, AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. WENT TOT, AUTOPILOT ON/OFF SWITCH ON THE AUTOPILOT CONTROLLER HEAD AND SELECTED OFF POSITION, AGAIN IT FAILED TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOPILOT. PILOT REDUCED ENGINE POWER. PULLED THE AUTOPILOT CIRCUIT BREAKER, WHICH RELEIVED THE YOKE PRESSURE. PILOT THEN BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF THE DIVE AT ABOUT 2000FT MSL. DID NOT DECLARE EMERGENCY AND LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT.

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