There used to be a SimConnect bug after first release where ANY third party tool or application caused a HUGE frame rate drop. That got fixed and we didn’t have any CTDs or other major problems until the December update. The FSUIPC forum – and I think it was John Dowson himself – figured out it was AI traffic queries that might be the CTD culprit, so he posted an INI file entry to disable that.
If you search this forum for Little Nav Map, you will find posts by the author himself saying not to connect LNM to the sim because that same SimConnect issue will cause a CTD. He says you can still use LNM – just don’t connect to the sim.
I found the same issue with Navigraph and its SimLink component. You can use Navigraph, but don’t ask it to should you the AI or live traffic.
Interestingly, LNM says it uses the old FSX version of the SimConnect DLL to maintain compatibility with other sims. Eventually, they are going to have to convert to using the official SDK because SimConnect.dll has been discontinued. SimConnect now refers to the interface as supported by the SDK.
I wish you all the best luck as you hunt down this werewolf thing we call CTD.