---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 01/05/10: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:25 AM - Re: Airmaster prop controller problem (Richard Iddon) 2. 01:34 AM - Airmaster prop controller problem (Keith Hickling) 3. 04:58 AM - Re: Flap cross tube (William Daniell) 4. 05:40 AM - Re: Flap cross tube (Frans Veldman) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:25:08 AM PST US From: "Richard Iddon" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Airmaster prop controller problem Terry. Check the carbon brushes are OK if you haven't already. I have replaced mine twice, they seem to last about 200/250 hours. I visited Airmaster late last year. The latest units have the brushes on the shaft rather than the back plate of the spinner flange which should help the brushes last longer I guess. My prop has also occasionally got it's knickers in a twist and refused to work properly. No idea what caused it but resetting the breaker has sorted it out so far. Richard Iddon G-RIXS -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Terry Seaver (terrys) Sent: 04 January 2010 21:03 Subject: Europa-List: Airmaster prop controller problem Hi, For those of you who have the Airmaster prop: I went flying yesterday for the first time in 6 weeks. During the run-up, I normally check for ignition drop at 4000 rpm, then place the prop in 'manual', increase pitch until rpms drop to 3500, then place the switch back to 'auto' and make sure the rpms return to 4000. This time, when I went back to 'auto', nothing happened (rpms remained at 3500). Going back to 'manual', I was able to go back to fine pitch and 4000 rpm. Tried again, same thing. I turned the circuit breaker for the prop controller off and back on, then tried the test again and it worked this time, i.e. the prop went back to fine and 4000 rpm when I selected 'auto'. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any ideas about what the problem was/is? Regards, Terry Seaver A135, XS monowheel with 912S, Airmaster prop. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 01/03/10 09:41:00 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 01:34:52 AM PST US From: Keith Hickling Subject: Europa-List: Airmaster prop controller problem Hi Terry, I have had 2 controller failures. The first was during ground testing, before my first flight in July. After initially working fine, the controller started intermittently not governing, and at times showed both the coarse and fine LEDs lit green at once, which should never occur. At other times it governed normally. Airmaster replaced the controller for me, and the new one operated perfectly for 40 hours. Then in September it stopped governing completely soon after takeoff. It operated normally on manual, but did not govern at all and this time showed no indicator LEDs. I tried resetting the resettable internal fuse, but either the fuse was not the problem or it would not reset. Airmaster again replaced the controller for me, and the new one is operating correctly. Both times, it still operated correctly on manual. The manual describes the correct indications from the LEDs and what they show in various failure modes, including if the controller is not receiving a speed signal from the prop (flashing orange, as occurs with engine stopped). Martin at Airmaster was very helpful. You can contact him if you need to at support@airmasterpropellers.com or the phone number is in the manual. He could not find a fault with the first controller (perhaps because it was intermittent) and I have not heard from him yet about the problem with the second controller. I was naturally quite concerned at having a second failure, and asked Martin if it's OK to have the controller on during starting. He said yes, and most people do, and that they have only seen 1 or 2 controller failures before. I would be interested in what your problem turns out to be. Regards, Keith Hickling, New Zealand. ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Seaver (terrys) To: europa-list@matronics.com Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 10:03 AM Subject: Europa-List: Airmaster prop controller problem Hi, For those of you who have the Airmaster prop: I went flying yesterday for the first time in 6 weeks. During the run-up, I normally check for ignition drop at 4000 rpm, then place the prop in 'manual', increase pitch until rpms drop to 3500, then place the switch back to 'auto' and make sure the rpms return to 4000. This time, when I went back to 'auto', nothing happened (rpms remained at 3500). Going back to 'manual', I was able to go back to fine pitch and 4000 rpm. Tried again, same thing. I turned the circuit breaker for the prop controller off and back on, then tried the test again and it worked this time, i.e. the prop went back to fine and 4000 rpm when I selected 'auto'. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any ideas about what the problem was/is? Regards, Terry Seaver A135, XS monowheel with 912S, Airmaster prop. ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 04:58:32 AM PST US From: William Daniell Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap cross tube My first boss used to say the only stupid question is the one you don't ask...so thanks for the question . As it happens the difference between the wing roots and the fuselage is small 1-2mm not of the order of about 10mm so thankfully that is not the issue. I think that the issue is less of a problem than I had thought given that the minimum engagement with flap pins is 10mm. Continuing in the subject of aileron jamming I don't see how the flaps could have jammed the aileron given that the two are separated by a fiberglass close out or at least at the root...or am I being thick (perfectly possible)? I have tried moving my flaps outboard as far as they will go at full deflection and they rub against the outboard close out of the flap slot not against the aileron. Further extension is prevented by the outboard hinge assembly. Will craig bastin wrote: > > > "As to why this has occurred I am not really too sure. the root of one > of the wings is slightly further away from the fuselage than the other. > Given that the spar alignment bush holes are pre-drilled I assumed that > this is normal..." > > this may be a stupid question, but you have done the lift / drag socket > install, to fix the alignment wings/fuse, if so and its the port side wing > that is closer by about 10mm, then yes there seem to be a few kits with this > issue. > > > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:40:05 AM PST US From: Frans Veldman Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap cross tube On 01/05/2010 01:56 PM, William Daniell wrote: > Continuing in the subject of aileron jamming I don't see how the flaps > could have jammed the aileron given that the two are separated by a > fiberglass close out or at least at the root...or am I being thick > (perfectly possible)? I'm not sure exactly how, but the pilot involved is a professional and not making things up. I also know that the alerted rescue team afterwards was quite shocked when they discovered in what condition the airplane was landed. What happened is that the pin slipped out of the socket, and then rested against the edge of the socket. If you then retract the flaps, the forces involved are huge, and likely to bend anything, including the outboard hinges. I don't know how much clearance there was between flap and aileron in that particular airplane. Keep in mind though that during flight the wings will bend somewhat, and that clearance might be smaller than normal. I believe that the event was covered in detail on this list. Anyway, it happened, it was a serious event, and it was worth an SB. Frans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message europa-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Europa-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/europa-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/europa-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.