Autopilot on final

**kld3169** · 03-06-2006, 10:42 PM

When landing in most of the jets..737, A320, etc, I switch the autopilot off at about 1000' agl on final and my nose raises up dramatically..am I missing saomething? I do NOT touch any elevator controls while the autopilot is on, so how is this corrected???

**moth01** · 03-06-2006, 11:35 PM

Hi Ken,
I would like anyone to correct me if am wrong, but I believe that when the AP was disconnected, your elevator will revert back to it's position before you engaged the AP.
So, if you had a lot of 'up elevator" set, and when the AP disconnected, reverting back to the levator setting your nose will go up.

As a test, set some 'down' elevator trim manually , activate the AP for a set altitude. You should fly level at set alt. Now disconncet the AP. Does the nose drop?

Some yokes and sticks have a manual calibration slider, to center the control. Is this set correctly? Have you calibrated the control stick/yoke?

Just throwing some ideas out here.
Anyone else?
Gary.

**kld3169** · 03-07-2006, 09:32 PM

That makes sense if it works that way, since I do flip it on during a steep climbout...I'll have to level off briefly then try it...thanks and I'll let you know if it works!!!!!

**michaeljulian** · 03-08-2006, 04:17 AM

It may be stating the obvious but are you approaching much faster then you should? If you are going too fast with full flap the effect would be exactly as you describe. Prior to disengaging the autopilot it would have been compensating for the excessive lift. Just a thought and especially if it happens with all aircraft.

**FearlessTower** · 03-08-2006, 10:40 AM

In FS, when switching off the autopilot, your controls are going to revert to whatever position your yoke, joystick is in at that particular moment rather than the position tat they were in when the autopilot was initially turned on. So, if the autoilot is holding your nose down (as would be the case if you are flying the approach at an excessive speed as Michael pointed out) and you switch off the autopilot, the control surfaces will most likely revert to a neutral position which is why your nose suddenly comes up.

Hope that helps,
Andrew

**kld3169** · 03-09-2006, 12:06 AM

Yeah, I might be..still getting the hang of the big-guys...I'll watch my speed from now on.

**SWA1970** · 03-10-2006, 07:57 PM

>When landing in most of the jets..737, A320, etc, I switch
>the autopilot off at about 1000' agl on final and my nose
>raises up dramatically..am I missing saomething? I do NOT
>touch any elevator controls while the autopilot is on, so how
>is this corrected???
>
>

I usually switch off autopilot at around 200' AGL.

**srgalahad** · 04-20-2006, 04:12 AM

unless you want a ticket from the Feds...

http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/Aim/Chap3/aim0302.html

"5. Aircraft Speed. Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph)."

Rob