Aircraft spins rather than prop!

[rhodges]

Rarely, but occasionally, when I try to start an engine, the aircraft spins rather than the prop. Of course this brings on a rather crazy crash scenario. Presently, I am seeing this with the "ShakyJake" Cessna 195. I believe I have seen the same thing happen with Bill Lyons J3 Cub, and possibly others. Seems to be unique to single engine props. I am suspicious that it also has something to do with multiple monitor selections. The only way to stop it is to shut down FS, select the aircraft again and start all over. I have no idea what causes this. Has anyone else seen this happen and have a clue as to the cause?

 

Respectfully:

RTH

[jandjfrench]

Hi RTH,

It seems likely that I've been experiencing the same thing. I always start from the VC and several times recently when I hit the starter the aircraft would flip over and crash. I was using the Dornier DO-335 created by Tom Wood of Sim-Tech. This would happen from a flight which I saved, cold and dark. My focus has been on modifying the aircraft to my liking and I've been working around the problem by choosing another aircraft, starting it, and then going back to the DO-335.

Just letting you know that the problem is not unique with you.

Jim F.

[rhodges]

Thanks Jim:

 

What's strange is that it does not happen all of the time. Like you, I like to set everything up cold and dark, save the flight, and then possibly select the flight later. However, I have had the same thing happen immediately after starting up FSX with an MSFS default aircraft (Usually the Learjet), then simply selecting the desired aircraft (not my saved flight). At other times, my selected aircraft starts normally without the quirk. I have not been able to pin point what causes this yet.

 

Again, thanks for your comments.

RTH

[napamule2]

Not sure what the setting for the 'starter torque' is for the Shaky Jake, but sometimes it is too high. Here is line in cfg. Keep reducing until it behaves.

 

normalized_starter_torque= 0.03 //o=0.3 //Starter torque factor

 

Chuck B

Napamule

[kingnorris]

I'm sorry, but this sounds funny as heck to watch! Would love to see a video. Reminds me of old Wile E Coyote/Road Runner cartoons! :)

[napamule2]

If you don't want to do any edits to aircraft cfg then use this trick: Press 'Y' key (slew) then press 'F1' key (Altitude Down Fast). The 'F1' places the aircraft on ground (at static height and on it's gear:ie if it was upside down in air). Then press 'Y' key (slew off) and again press 'F1' (Throttle Cut). Done. So: 'Y' + 'F1' + 'Y' + 'F1'.

Chuck B

Napamule

[cianpars]

This is most odd. I've been fiddling around with flight simulators for 15 years now and never seen or heard of this happening. Mind you, other very odd things have happened in that time, most of which have been fixed with a bit of research and trial and error.

 

Your problem still has me stumped though.

 

IAN

[jandjfrench]

Hi,

I hope I haven't misled anyone. I said it seemed likely that RTH and I were experiencing the same problem. When I'd start from the VC my view was down toward the starter and my outside view was limited. I'd press the starter and what I could see of the outside world appear to start revolving. There would be an immediate crash and the view would switch to the outside view with the aircraft on its side and half buried in the ground. Whether the prop was in fact stopped I couldn't say as I couldn't see it. My problem seemed to fit RTH's description. And I too, had it happen recently on a different aircraft.

Jim F.

[rhodges]

Thanks for the replies folks:

 

I think FS is just playing with us and having fun doing it.

 

First of all to let everyone what I am doing. I have originated spread sheets in Excel for each of the continents. My flight plans are progressively in a different aircraft to the Capital. To make it more interesting, I peek in Wikipedia and briefly review each country and capital before each flight. I am down to my last two destinations in Africa, then return home by way of Frankfurt in an Airbus 340-300, and G5 to KJFK.

 

The flight in question is as follows:

Aircraft: Commercial Level Simulations Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow II

Flightplan: FAWB - FXMM (Originated in FlightSim Commander) (Third Monitor)

Monitor: RXP GNS530 / GNS GMAGTX (Secondary Monitor)

Timer: (Secondary Monitor)

Display: 2D

 

You will note that this is a different bird from my original post, which was a Cessna 195.

 

First try: Selected a previously setup and saved plan at FAWB. Engine start disaster

 

Second try:

1. Started up FSX with the MSFSX default Learjet at my home Airport, KMYR

2. Selected the bird in question (Piper PA28 Arrow)

3. Engine started with no problem.

4. Shut the engine down.

5. Moved my RXP GPS to the secondary monitor

6. Restarted engine with no problem

7. Moved my timer to the secondary monitor.

8. DISASTER when I started the engine.

9. Restarted FSX

 

I tried again without the timer, and she started again with no problem, so obviously, the natural conclusion was that the timer location was the culprit. Not so fast! I then retried this scenario multiple times along with several other variations, and had a wild bird again every time I tried.

 

Second try:

1. Default startup again of FSX. (Cold and dark)

2. Selected the default MSFSX Cessna 172, and started the engine.

3. Shut down the engine.

4. Selected the Arrow, and the engine started just fine.

5. Shut the engine down.

6. Moved the aircraft to FAWB

7. Disaster again when I restarted the engine.

 

Third try:

1. Default startup

2. Selected the MSFSX default Cessna 170

3. Started the engine (and left it running)

4. Selected the Arrow.

5. Setup my flight (with the engine running)

6. Ummm Noticed that my sound decreased.

7. OH POOH!. Elevation at FAWB is almost 5,000 ft. and I did not lean. engine quit.

 

Now it really wanted to play with me! The engine restarted just fine.

 

This thing has a mind of its own. Way back somewhere in the past, I remember a post with this same scenario, but I cannot find it now. Possibly it was included in all of the lost threads from AvSim. This is not great big biggie, but does make one wonder.

 

To be continued:

RTH

 

For what it is worth, the following are my system specs:

 

Primary Computer:

 

ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 SATA 6GB/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

Intel Core i7-2700K CPU

Corsair H80 (CSCH80) High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler

Mushkin Enhanced Redline 8GB (2X4GB) 240 Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC312800) Memory

 

Windows 7 Premium 64 Bit Operating System

EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 Video Graphics Card

 

EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512 bigt DDR3 Video Graphics Card

 

24" Viewsonic VA2431wm LCD Primary Monitor

24" Viewsonic VA2431wm LCD Secondary Monitor

24" Acer LCD Primary Monitor off Secondary Video Card

Nvidia latest version Drivers for Video Cards

 

1 Western Digital Velco/Raptor WD3000HLFS 300 GB 10000RPM WATA 3 GB System Harddrive

 

1 Western Digital Velco/Raptor WD3000HLFS 300 GB 10000RPM WATA 3 GB FSX Harddrive

 

1 each Segate 320GB SATA FS9 Harddrive

1 each Segate 320GB SATA Backup / Utility Harddrive

2 Each CDRW/DVDRW

PlusDeck 2C Audio Tape Player/Recorder

Konica Minolta magicolor 2400W Laser Printer

HP Officejet 4315V Fax/Printer,Copier

CH Pro USB Pedals

CH USB FlightSim Yoke

Microsoft FFB2 USB Joystick

Logitech Keyless Keyboard

Logitech cordless mouse

High Speed Cable Internet/email Service with Router

 

Thermaltake Toughpower Grand TPG-1200M 1200 W v2.92 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 Plus Gold Power Supply

 

SuperPower ATX Full Tower Case with Large Side Fans Customized for more ventilation (Seven Fans total)

 

Secondary Computer:

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel ATX Motherboard

Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Quad Core CPU

6GB (3x2GB) 240 Pin DDR3 1600 OCZ3P1600LV6GK Memory

WinXP Pro 32 Bit

 

NVIDIA Evga Geforce 8400GS 512MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card

 

24" HP LCD Monitor

Navidia version 314.22 drivers for Video Card

1 each Segate 250GB UIDE Harddrive

Std. Floppy Drive

CDRW/DVDRW

WINTV

Epson Perfection 2480 Photo Scanner

MicroTech Z!O! Flash Card Reader

 

Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Sound to Creative Inspire 5.1 5200

Speakers

 

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 675 Watt Power Supply

 

Note: Keyboard and Mouse are shared with a primary Computer for WinXP Pro 64 bit programs, Implementation is by Synergy Free Software.

[jandjfrench]

Hi RTH,

As I have extended displays, and drag windows over to the second monitor when flying full screen, if I can get a recurrent error with a saved flight I'll try it without the extended displays. Now there's a straw to grasp!

Jim F.

[rhodges]

Good luck Jim:

 

I seldom fly in the full screen mode, but I get this quirk either with, or without extended displays at the whim of the source. Then without warning in the exact same configurations, at times I can start the engine normally with no problem. It seems to be only applicable to few, and rare single engine third party birds. Next try, I will turn off all multiple monitor displays and see if that makes any difference. I will also try FS9 and see if the same birds have the problem in that FS.

 

Happy flying:

RTH

RTH