Autopilot issues - did this ever get resolved?

User Support Hub Aircraft & Systems
1

In flight with autopilot connected in NAV mode, plane will suddenly drift off left or right and, if not corrected, spiral down. ALSO I see for no apparent reason autopilot will go into SUSP mode? I know others are having this issue, but is this a real bug at this point? I mostly see this in the GA aircraft with the G1000.

thanks for any input, sorry if it’s already covered somewhere..

2

Moved to #gd-commsupport:anc as this is a better forum fit.

3

Been flying the FSR500 quite a bit and have not come across such issues.

4

This issue is getting worse for me and many others, but not for everyone, which makes me think it’s a bug of some kind. I’ve done all the usual testing, reloading etc, and still it persists…

5

This is intended and correct behavior. There are a number of reasons that the system will go into SUSP, such as:

  • The current active leg is the last leg in the main plan (this includes off route direct-tos)
  • Activate Leg was selected when on the backside of the leg course
  • During an active hold

We see this mostly with noisy controllers, where even when centered the controller is giving a tiny bit of input, which the autopilot will fight with trim until it can no longer and runs out of control.

A good way to check this is to do some flights with all of your controllers completely unplugged, and see if the problem still occurs. And of course always recommended to do all testing with an empty Community folder to eliminate any possible confounding variables.

6

Thanks for that. I do see SUSP towards the end of a flight, but not necessarily on the last leg. I’ll be watching the plane follow the GPS line, and randomly it will fly straight past the next waypoint, I check and see SUSP is on.

Good point on the controller, I have the Alpha and Bravo setup. I increased the deadzone on the Yoke so I’ll see if that helps. I read that somewhere as a fix for this.

7

One other scenario is if you are on a MANSEQ leg. This is not the name of the fix, but instead a special leg in procedures called a vectors leg. MANSEQ stands for manual sequence; it is intended that at this point in the procedure you would be receiving radar vectors from ATC to your next fix, after which when cleared to do so you will either press SUSP to resume the course, or do a direct-to.

When you reach a MANSEQ leg the system will go into SUSP and the autopilot will fly the current course forever without pilot intervention.

8

!!! yes… I’ve seen that name on several flights, thinking it was a waypoint..jeez.

Now I will be looking for that in the future.. thank you!