Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Any DA42 related topics.

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Rich »

Tom-B wrote: Wed Jun 30, 2021 7:26 pm I have the manual pedals on my DA40. Recently, when retracting the pilot's pedals to engage the gust lock the lock release cable snapped as I got the pedals to the fully retracted position. Thankfully, I was at my home field and had finished flying for the day. But what was also nice was that with a little awkward reaching I found I could manually release the lock and push the pedals back.

Regardless, I now always engage the gust lock on the co-pilot's pedals and leave the pilots pedals positioned just as I like them. Using the co-pilot's pedals for the gust lock I will never have to worry whether a similar cable malfunction will crimp my flying position.
Years ago I took the control lock, cut it in half and inserted an appropriate-sized wooden dowel to make it work with the pedals in the full forward position. This means I almost never move the pedals.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1328 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Boatguy »

My co-pilot side pedals quit about 18 months ago. It was a fuse hidden up underneath the canopy. I agree, very poor design decision.
User avatar
Rick
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1575
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:09 pm
First Name: Rick
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: NONE
Airports: KROA
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 297 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Rick »

Rich wrote: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:14 pmYears ago I took the control lock, cut it in half and inserted an appropriate-sized wooden dowel to make it work with the pedals in the full forward position. This means I almost never move the pedals.
I did the same thing many years ago, except I still use mine on the pilot-side pedals. But it is sized for where I leave them, so I have never moved my rudder pedals since buying the plane. There are several threads here in the forum about the gust lock modification - I think I may have even posted some pictures long ago...
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
User avatar
chili4way
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 523
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:51 pm
First Name: Paul
Aircraft Type: DA40NG
Aircraft Registration: N718NG
Airports: KADS
Has thanked: 1057 times
Been thanked: 482 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by chili4way »

Newer planes (e.g. 2019 DA40NG) no longer have the gust-lock-on-the-pilot-side capability. See DA40NG TR-MÄM 40-1020 from 13-Sep-2018.
User avatar
CFIDave
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2678
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:40 pm
First Name: Dave
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N333GX
Airports: KJYO Leesburg VA
Has thanked: 231 times
Been thanked: 1473 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by CFIDave »

I've seen multiple DA40s used as flight school rental aircraft that have had the pilot's side cable snap -- because pilots pull UP too much on the handle when trying to pull the rudder pedals back, and bend/break the cable. The electric pedals are much better for planes flown by multiple pilots.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Rich »

Since making that custom control lock:
- Pilot-side is always full forward, as that is where I like it. But I do move it during annual just to check for wear inside the S-tubes.
- Copilot side is set at an intermediate position for my wife and rarely moves. But I also check for wear in the cables plus pull them all the way back when checking for brake fluid levels or bleeding the brakes. When pulled back it's a lot easier to get at the brake fluid reservoirs.

One additional hint: Occasionally get in the right side and check for proper feel of those pedals. If the brakes need bleeding it shows up there first.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
Steve
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1953
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:23 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N432SC
Airports: 1T7
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 493 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Steve »

Rich wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 4:43 pm Since making that custom control lock:
- Pilot-side is always full forward, as that is where I like it. But I do move it during annual just to check for wear inside the S-tubes.
- Copilot side is set at an intermediate position for my wife and rarely moves. But I also check for wear in the cables plus pull them all the way back when checking for brake fluid levels or bleeding the brakes. When pulled back it's a lot easier to get at the brake fluid reservoirs.

One additional hint: Occasionally get in the right side and check for proper feel of those pedals. If the brakes need bleeding it shows up there first.
Rich, that is exactly my routine also, except that both sets of pedals are all the way forward (my son is 6'4"). I'll second your advice to check the copilot's brakes occasionally as well.

Steve
User avatar
mhoran
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 476
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 11:56 pm
First Name: Matt
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N269RB
Airports: KLDJ
Has thanked: 121 times
Been thanked: 244 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by mhoran »

Fortunately it seems the pedals were just jammed. While holding the button to move the pedals back I added some force in both directions and eventually they started moving. It's nice when there's a simple fix. Now if my engine troubles would just go away...

Always been a fan of the extended gust lock and I'm more convinced than ever at this point that it's a worthy mod.
User avatar
delaPlanet
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:54 pm
First Name: Hogarth
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N20HJ
Airports: kHWD
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by delaPlanet »

Can someone give a good description of where the fuse is for the rudder pedal adjust motor? Mine just failed and the CB did not trip :/

Thanks!

Hoagy
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1328 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

Re: Failure of electric rudder pedal adjustment

Post by Boatguy »

delaPlanet wrote: Sun Apr 30, 2023 6:00 pm Can someone give a good description of where the fuse is for the rudder pedal adjust motor? Mine just failed and the CB did not trip :/
It's somewhere up under the glare shield on this side. I'm not sure exactly where. But that's what I was told by the shop. It is a "pico" fuse. You might find a specific identifier in the maintenance manual or IPC.

My co-pilot side quit working after some service, the fuse was replaced and no problems after that. Of course it begs the question of why the fuse blew in the first place.
Attachments
2019-08-15 112450.JPG
Post Reply