IFR Training and Practical Exam - Partial Panel

[jvolkober]

I am training for my IFR.  My instructor and I need to determine what it means to work partial panel with my system, defining “working partial panel" as coping with likely flight instrument failure.  I am looking for assistance, Dynon tech support for sure, to determine the failure modes I should be planning for.


My RV-9A is set up with dual SV screens and ADHRS, a back-up alternator and back-up batteries on each screen.  I have a single Dynon cable from the two ADHRS in the rear fuselage to a patch panel (not Dynon’s) behind the baggage bulkhead that connects the Dynon D9 connectors for the ADHRS cable to the auto pilot servo cables and the cable to the panel. The system is set up with the map software.  I also have a GNS-430W with the ARINC-429 interface.

I have identified the following failure possibilities:

Primary SV screen fails - use back-up screen
Both screens fail - very bad but sufficiently unlikely to be a concern?
Primary ADHRS - use back-up ADHRS
Both ADHRS - use SV or Garmin GPS data for speed, pitch and roll
Total electrical failure - unlikely with multiple back-ups
Pitot/Static system failure I have heated pitot tube but no alternate static - use SV or Garmin GPS data

So what other failure modes should be considered?  Can an individual indicator/sensor - airspeed for example -  fail while others operate?  How should these be simulated?

Would appreciate your input.

 

[skysailor]

It is unlikely you will be allowed to take your exam in that aircraft. Partial panel means exactly that...there is not a full compliment of flight instruments from any source. You simply do not have the ability to present a partial panel which typically involves airspeed, VSI, altimeter and turn rate instrument.

You have two full panels complete through independent flight directors which, while much safer in actual use, does not meet the partial panel definition. You may wish to contact your intended examiner or FSDO for official guidance. The FAA is struggling to adapt to the world of redundant EFIS capability in training aircraft.

 

[60av8tor]

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=117774

 

[johnsteichen]

you can use the steam guage mode of your display and cover various guages with a sticky note.

 

[thibault]

All we'll and good, but isn't the point to simulate a possible failure mode, not force a condition that could not occur?

 

[GalinHdz]

This is not a new situation and there have been many check rides in similarly equipped multiple redundant EFIS aircraft. Here is the answer a DPE provided to an applicant concerning this very issue:

The PTS says I have to fail the primary flight instruments or the PFD if it's a digital cockpit. I'm not sure if the aircraft qualifies for the partial panel requirement since it sounds partial panel proof. I'll check in the morning and get back to you.

The next day this was the answer:

yes that airplane will work. I'll dim the primary and your applicant will fly off of the secondary. Ok? Ok!

Just make sure your CFII talks this over with the DPE he plans to use for your check ride.

 

[dabear]

exactly. I did my IFR check ride in a G1000 aircraft and we just dimmed the primary screen and I flew off the 2nd screen (with full instruments).

my cockpit is full EFIS with a D1 as well....

Dont need no stinkn round gauges ... ;D

 

[Carl_Froehlich]

I did my IFR practical exam in my RV-10, dual 10" SkyView panel. I took some time to go over the aircraft power distribution, pointing out that each EFIS display and ADHRS received power from separate sources. I did this as a proactive step to avoid the "what happens if you loose all power" discussion. He was satisfied that total loss of power was not probable. He did however tell me to turn off the display on my side of the panel during an approach. As you all know, this is a non-event with dual displays.

Side note - I do have air speed and altimeter steam gauges in the center of the panel above the radio stack. Rest of the panel is a GTN-650 (Comm #1, GPS #1 and Nav #1) and Dynon radio (comm #2). The SkyView GPS is GPS #2.

Carl