Garmin GFC 500 Manual

Also see for GFC 500: Maintenance manual

Garmin GFC 500 Manual Manual pdf 37 page image

190-02291-06 Rev. 2 AFMS – GFC 500 Autopilot in Textron 182 SeriesPage 7–1SECTION 7 – SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONAFCS OVERVIEWThe GFC 500 is a digital Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS). It is a two-axis autopilot and flight directorsystem which provides the pilot with the following features:G5 Outputs to Autopilot — The G5 flight instrument provides attitude, rate, and acceleration information to theservos. Additionally, indicated airspeed, vertical speed, pressure altitude and GPS information are sent to theautopilot for mode control.Flight Director (FD) — The flight director processing occurs in the G5 instrument. Selected modes for the flightdirector are displayed on the G5 autopilot status box.The flight director provides:• Command Bars showing pitch/roll guidance• Vertical / lateral mode selection and processingAutopilot (AP) — Autopilot operation occurs within the pitch, roll, and optional pitch trim servo. It also providesservo monitoring, and automatic flight control in response to flight director steering commands, attitude and rateinformation, and airspeed.Optional Electric Pitch Trim — The pitch trim servo provides manual electric pitch trim capability when theautopilot is not engaged. The trim servo provides automatic pitch trim when the autopilot is engaged and theairplane is in the air. Automatic trim functionality is disabled on the ground.GMC 507 — Pilot commands to the autopilot and flight director are entered through the GMC 507 autopilot modepanel. The GMC 507 contains internal sensors which calculate the aircraft attitude, attitude rate andaccelerations. These inertial sensors are completely independent from the sensors within the G5 and the rest ofthe autopilot system, and are not used for the flight director, autopilot, trim or ESP functions. They are usedsolely to provide independent monitoring of the GFC 500.Airspeed and Altitude Information — The GFC 500 requires airspeed and altitude information from the G5instrument.Other components of the AFCS include the GSA 28 pitch, roll, and optional pitch trim servo that also containautopilot processors, control wheel mounted elevator trim switch (if trim servo is installed), control wheel mountedautopilot disconnect and trim interrupt button (AP DISC / TRIM INT), and a Go-Around (GA) button.Underspeed Protection (USP) — The GFC 500 will provide Underspeed Protection when the autopilot isengaged.When the minimum airspeed of 65 KIAS is reached, a visual MINSPD message will appear above the airspeedtape and the autopilot will lower the nose to maintain 65 KIAS. An aural “AIRSPEED, AIRSPEED” voice alert willsound for installations connected to an audio panel.Underspeed Protection is exited automatically when airspeed exceeds 70 KIAS.Overspeed Protection (OSP) — The GFC 500 will provide Overspeed Protection when the autopilot is engaged.When the maximum airspeed of 165 KIAS is reached, visual MAXSPD message will appear above the airspeedtape and the autopilot will raise the nose of the aircraft to avoid exceeding the maximum configured airspeed.An aural “AIRSPEED, AIRSPEED” voice alert will sound for installations connected to an audio panel.Overspeed Protection is exited automatically when airspeed is reduced below 160 KIAS.Coupled Go-Around — Pressing the GA button will not disengage the autopilot. Instead, the autopilot willattempt to capture and track the flight director command bars. If insufficient airplane performance is available tofollow the commands, the autopilot will enter Underspeed Protection mode at the minimum airspeed.Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) — The GFC 500 will provide Electronic Stability and Protection whenthe autopilot is not engaged.