AP Disconnect Button Fell Off
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:17 pm
Yesterday, the AP was flying as I approached my home field, and when it came time to turn it off, I felt for the disconnect button and couldn't find it -- I looked down to the yoke and no red button! After a brief moment of confusion, I turned the AP off at the panel (I have the K(r)AP 140), also realizing that I could have hit the red button on the other yoke or gone for the circuit breaker (which I have marked with a red ring from Sportys).
After landing and shutdown, I found the button on the floor. It screwed nicely back into the switch mechanism, and it appears to work properly (although of course I will fully test it on the ground next time I go flying).
Has this happened to anyone else? I'm wondering if there is any approved way to screw in the button more securely. I thought about putting some Loctite on the threads, but I'm hesitant to do anything that might bind the switch, etc.
After landing and shutdown, I found the button on the floor. It screwed nicely back into the switch mechanism, and it appears to work properly (although of course I will fully test it on the ground next time I go flying).
Has this happened to anyone else? I'm wondering if there is any approved way to screw in the button more securely. I thought about putting some Loctite on the threads, but I'm hesitant to do anything that might bind the switch, etc.