20220506 PA30 Pilot Altimatic IIIB Flying

This video was taken on an IFR flight from Wilmington (KILG) to Georgetown (KGED) for the purpose of testing autopilot repairs made recently.

It includes what we found wrong with my Altimatic IIIB, what was fixed, and then details the procedures I use to fly it.

[brwigfall]

Thank you sir! Amazing work. I have the same AutoPilot in my PA-23-250 and your videos definitely assist me with my Instrument approaches! God Bless.

[jhcanepa]

Great video and very, very helpful Frank! Thank you! I'm taking my PA-30C up now and playing with mine. I've had similar problems with the pitch not working. The heading is rock solid. I know the issue is not with the servo's since the trim switch still works (unless I'm missing something). Thanks again!!

[PAPilot]

Kudos to Jim Good at Lancaster Avionics for doing the work on the autopilot described herein; to Allen at Autopilot Central for his detailed guidance and repair plan; and to Paul at Phill-air for his technical support of my airplane.

[frankmatrone]

Thanks for the video and your time. I wish that I had come across it sooner. I’ve owned a PA31 for about 25 years with the Altimatic IIIB and don’t think I’ve ever understood it. Ours needs some TLC. Do you recommend anyone to work on it? I’m based in Allentown. Blue skies!

[francoismarquis]

Thanks for sharing this, Frank. A few things that are wrong in your assessment, if I may. Your pitch rate is not adjusted. The C3 are “angle based” autopilots in both roll and pitch. The agressiveness you saw in pitch is because the limit values are not adjusted. A -2.5 and +7 degrees should be set in pitch. To verify this, descents should be made at 18MAP and Vcruise +10 mph. This is all documented in the Piper Altimatic 3 service manual. Also, I noticed the pitch indication is not squared horizontal as it should be. All these are adjusted from the console.

You should be able to perform a descent and a climb by isong the #8

[francoismarquis]

While at it, you may also want to adjust the roll limits, along your Aspen GPSS gain. Do not hesitate to ping me if needed, I explored these babies down to the resistor level !

[flyingseraph]

Really helpful. Thanks Frank. Mark ICS #15503

[TheBobFront]

Nice video ! As I’m looking to buy a twin Comanche, it’s quite instructive !

But I wonder, was any twin sold with prop/wing deice ? Or can it be added as a kit ?