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Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

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GBWFH2010

Joined: 31 Jul 2011
Posts: 38

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:16 am Post subject: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

When flying today the Airmaster propeller appeared to function perfectly, however every so often at seemingly random intervals the green FEATHER lamp would light for one or two seconds and then extinguish. The propeller did not attempt to feather but it is somewhat disconcerting to see this illuminated.



What I did notice was a very slight flickering of all the instrument needles. Could this be coincidence or is this linked to the spurious prop indication?  I have checked all the earthing on the aircraft and could not find any obvious fault.   



Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what could be causing this problem and what I should check?

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_________________
Gordon Grant

G-BWFH

ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz
Guest

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 11:50 am Post subject: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

Hi Gordon,

If the prop is operating within its optimum range than the feather green light should definitely not be flickering on.

The other flickering lights  indicate which way the propeller is adjusting to fine the best pitch to optimize the performance. Green light is the prop is going to a finer pitch and the yellow light means it is trying to find a coarser pitch.

Martin at Airmaster will be able to help. Contact him via the Airmaster web site.

Maybe a connection problem. Does the RPM change with the feather light on? If not then it is an indication problem.



Cheers,



Tim



Tim Ward

12 Waiwetu Street

Fendalton,

Christchurch,  8052

New Zealand.



ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz



Ph 64 3 3515166

Mob 0210640221

On 23/05/2013, at 6:16 AM, "GBWFH2010" <gaxuk2001(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 When flying today the Airmaster propeller appeared to function perfectly, however every so often at seemingly random intervals the green FEATHER lamp would light for one or two seconds and then extinguish. The propeller did not attempt to feather but it is somewhat disconcerting to see this illuminated.

 

 What I did notice was a very slight flickering of all the instrument needles. Could this be coincidence or is this linked to the spurious prop indication?  I have checked all the earthing on the aircraft and could not find any obvious fault.   

 

 Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what could be causing this problem and what I should check?

 

 --------

 Gordon Grant

 

 G-BWFH

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401126#401126

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max8992

Joined: 28 Jul 2011
Posts: 142

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 11:19 pm Post subject: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

Hi there,



To me this is normal as the controller tries permanently to adjust the pitch

and lights just indicate the way it moves. At least it's how our's works! 

You can also refer to the user's guide or contact your local Airmaster rep.

Cheers,



Max  Cointe

mcointe(at)free.fr

F-PMLH Europa XS_TriGear

Kit #560-2003 912ULS/AirmasterAP332 450 hours



F-PLDJ Dyn’Aéro MCR 4S 

Kit #27-2002 912ULSFR/MTProp MTV7A 1550 heures

-----Message d'origine-----

De : owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com

[mailto:owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com] De la part de Tim Ward

Envoyé : mercredi 22 mai 2013 21:49

À : europa-list(at)matronics.com

Objet : Re: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight






Hi Gordon,

If the prop is operating within its optimum range than the feather green

light should definitely not be flickering on.

The other flickering lights  indicate which way the propeller is adjusting

to fine the best pitch to optimize the performance. Green light is the prop

is going to a finer pitch and the yellow light means it is trying to find a

coarser pitch.

Martin at Airmaster will be able to help. Contact him via the Airmaster web

site.

Maybe a connection problem. Does the RPM change with the feather light on?

If not then it is an indication problem.



Cheers,



Tim



Tim Ward

12 Waiwetu Street

Fendalton,

Christchurch,  8052

New Zealand.



ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz



Ph 64 3 3515166

Mob 0210640221

On 23/05/2013, at 6:16 AM, "GBWFH2010" <gaxuk2001(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 When flying today the Airmaster propeller appeared to function perfectly,

however every so often at seemingly random intervals the green FEATHER lamp
	


would light for one or two seconds and then extinguish. The propeller did

not attempt to feather but it is somewhat disconcerting to see this

illuminated.

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 What I did notice was a very slight flickering of all the instrument

needles. Could this be coincidence or is this linked to the spurious prop
	


indication?  I have checked all the earthing on the aircraft and could not

find any obvious fault.   

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what could be causing this

problem and what I should check?
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 --------

 Gordon Grant

 

 G-BWFH

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401126#401126

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_________________
Max8992
Europa XS #560 F-PMLH

GBWFH2010

Joined: 31 Jul 2011
Posts: 38

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:21 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

Thank you for you replies. Just to confirm the FINE/COARSE green/amber indicators seem to be working correctly as the propeller adjusts in flight. 

 

I have been in contact with Martin at Airmaster and he has suggested cleaning the slip rings and checking the brushes, which has been done recently but I will do again. Also, he suggested it could be a faulty feather microswitch and I have some additional tests to perform. 



It could well be the controller is misinterpreting the signals, but this will be more difficult to prove. Of course there could well be an underlying electrical problem (I have a Rotax 912 UL), but I can't find anything obvious.

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Gordon Grant

G-BWFH

GBWFH2010

Joined: 31 Jul 2011
Posts: 38

Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

I think I have solved the problem. Despite having removed the brushes and cleaned the slip ring once, I decided to do the whole operation again. What I found was the inner ring brush had a very sticky spring and was sometimes getting stuck at the mid-way point, thus making intermittent contact with the ring. (When I removed the brushes the first time everything appeared fine so I missed the problem.) It is possible the vibration caused by the landing run and stopping the engine might  have been enough to cause the brush to contact the inner ring as all ground feathering tests were fine.



A short test flight showed the propeller and all light indications to be functioning perfectly with not a hint of the FEATHER light illuminating!

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_________________
Gordon Grant

G-BWFH

ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz
Guest

Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 12:45 pm Post subject: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

Gordon,

Well done. Good to know for future reference.

Tim



Tim Ward

12 Waiwetu Street

Fendalton,

Christchurch,  8052

New Zealand.



ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz



Ph 64 3 3515166

Mob 0210640221

On 30/05/2013, at 12:37 AM, "GBWFH2010" <gaxuk2001(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I think I have solved the problem. Despite having removed the brushes and cleaned the slip ring once, I decided to do the whole operation again. What I found was the inner ring brush had a very sticky spring and was sometimes getting stuck at the mid-way point, thus making intermittent contact with the ring. (When I removed the brushes the first time everything appeared fine so I missed the problem.) It is possible the vibration caused by the landing run and stopping the engine might  have been enough to cause the brush to contact the inner ring as all ground feathering tests were fine.

 

 A short test flight showed the propeller and all light indications to be functioning perfectly with not a hint of the FEATHER light illuminating!

 

 --------

 Gordon Grant

 

 G-BWFH

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401522#401522

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budyerly(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Gordon,

  

 Sorry to here of your lost time with the Airmaster.

 Please note that when inspecting the brushes, it has come to my attention  that the braded copper wire has to be twisted nearly to the point of making a  curl.  Once nice and tightly wound, it stays inside the spring and is  trouble free.  

  

 If the braded copper is not wound tightly, it tends to bend under spring  compression and get caught in the spring, partially jamming the brush.   Normally this is fairly close to brush replacement time.  Should the copper  lead get caught in the spring wire gaps, this makes the brush hang up and  eventually loose contact as it wears.  I have even seen one where the  spring cut the braded copper.  Either way the prop control stops working  properly shortly thereafter until the brush is changed.  I have never had  problems with carbon dust in the brush guide, but that too has been a reason for  sticky brushes.   

  

 I'm afraid I have seen the wire jam up the works twice now and it really  has nothing to do with your operations.  The Airmaster manual is clear on  how to wind the copper braid, but I am afraid, we don't all wind the copper the  same.

  

 On annual inspections I tend to take my brush block off and check my  brushes carefully.  Any sticking and I am into it, cleaning and  inspecting.  But I am anal like that.

  

 Best Regards,

 Bud Yerly

 US Airmaster Distributor.

 [quote]   ---

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GBWFH2010

Joined: 31 Jul 2011
Posts: 38

Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster AC200 Feather light on during flight

Bud,



Thank you for your very informative comments. I have cured the problem short term but you have given me some excellent pointers regarding removing the root cause. I will have the block off again and check the wiring.



Regards

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Gordon Grant

G-BWFH

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