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Archer N6004H S-TEC System Twenty Autopilot
System Overview

The S-TEC autopilot is a more 
functional and modern replacement 
than the original Piper Autocontrol IIIb 
autopilot installed in our aircraft.

While the old autopilot was “state-
based” in that it sensed the angle of the 
aircraft’s orientation in relation to vertical, 
the S-TEC is “rate-based” and senses 
the rate of roll and turn. This results in 
much smoother and more accurate 
corrections to the ailerons while the 
autopilot is in control, and also means 
that when a turn needs to be made 
under autopilot control, it happens at 
standard rate rather than at unpredictable 
bank angles. To sense roll and turn rate 
requires a turn coordinator (TC) gyro, and in 
fact a turn coordinator instrument is built into 
the autopilot and the entire assembly replaces 
the TC on the instrument panel. 

The TC component of the autopilot operates exactly as the 
instrument it replaces, complete with a red flag indicating that electrical power to the 
instrument has been lost. The TC powers up along with the battery master as usual.

The autopilot component is powered separately and has its own power switch, so both the 
battery master 

and

 the AP MASTER switch need to be on for the autopilot to power up. It 

takes many seconds for the autopilot to become ready after power-on, because it has to wait 
for the TC to become stable and align its own platform in addition to performing its own 
computer self-checks. The expected sequence of indications at power-up is given in the 
Power-Up Test below.

Our autopilot does not have pitch axis control, but since it was an option, pitch control lights 
appear on the face of the instrument. Do not be confused by their presence; there is no 
altitude or pitch control capability and the ALT and TRIM UP/DN lights will remain off at all 
times.

The ability of the autopilot to provide optimum assistance and performance is 
directly proportional to the pilot's knowledge of its operating procedures. 
Therefore, pilots should develop a thorough understanding of the autopilot and its 
operating procedures in practice flight under Visual Meteorological Conditions 
(VMC) prior to using it IFR or in busy airspace with heavy pilot workloads.

N6004H S-TEC Autopilot Reference

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cvk

 1/29/13

Содержание Archer N6004H

Страница 1: ...p along with the battery master as usual The autopilot component is powered separately and has its own power switch so both the battery master and the AP MASTER switch need to be on for the autopilot to power up It takes many seconds for the autopilot to become ready after power on because it has to wait for the TC to become stable and align its own platform in addition to performing its own compu...

Страница 2: ...om NAV 2 radios and CDIs are to be used Pilots should remember to turn the AP MASTER switch ON as a part of normal engine start when the autopilot is to be used and also to turn it OFF before shutting down the engine Pilots should add this step to the shutdown checklist immediately before turning the avionics master switch off Engaging the Autopilot After power on via the AP MASTER switch and exec...

Страница 3: ...acking since the autopilot will track all needle excursions and may behave badly during VOR station passage Maneuver the aircraft to a heading within 10º of the selected course with the CDI no more than one dot deflected from center before engaging the autopilot in this mode Disengaging the Autopilot The autopilot can be disengaged normally by any of the following three actions Pressing the red AP...

Страница 4: ...thin three minutes RDY light alone will illuminate indicating autopilot readiness Move yoke left and right to sense normal freedom of movement Set L R TURN knob to neutral position Press AP MODE SEL once to engage stabilization wing leveler mode ST lamp alone illuminates indicating stabilization wing leveler mode active Move yoke left and right to sense servo and verify manual override Yoke should...

Страница 5: ...urse track mode active Turn NAV1 OBS until CDI needle is deflected 2 dots right of center Yoke should turn to the right under servo control Turn NAV1 OBS until CDI needle is deflected 2 dots left of center Yoke should turn to the left under servo control Turn NAV1 OBS until CDI needle is centered Yoke movement should stop Disconnect autopilot using one of the following means Press red AP DISC butt...

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