IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM

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IFD failure in flight

Printed From: Avidyne
Category: Avidyne General
Forum Name: IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
Forum Description: Topics on Avidyne's IFD 5 Series and IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
URL: http://forums.avidyne.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1347
Printed Date: 27 Sep 2024 at 12:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: IFD failure in flight

Posted By: Sanjiv
Subject: IFD failure in flight
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 10:44pm

While flying back home from trying some approached N14-KACY(ILS31)-KGED(RNAV)-N14(RNAV). Thankfully it was all under VFR conditions.

Everything went just fine until I was on approach for my home base N14.

-          Started off with ADSB GPS location failure on IFD
-          followed by GPS Reversion warning message on Aspen.
-          Then IFD GPS turns from green to yellow.
-          GPS approach turns from LPV to VNAV + LNAV
-          IFD starts to X everything out. Lost Altitude info, airspeed data and GPS ,,,,,,
-          Aspen went X on AI and also X on DG. Lost Aspen completely.
-          Backup Garmin G5 worked just fine. Garmin 796 has full GPS coverage at the time IFD failed.
-          ForeFlight on iPAD also worked fine. Mechanical airspeed indicator and Altimeter worked fine.
-          Aspen throws same errors AI failed (Check pitot heat), DG failed (with check GPS data)
-          It all started from IFD and went downhill in few min.
-          Upon landing I reset all systems and everything seem to come back up normal.
-          I took pictures of different failures and downloaded complete logs from IFD.
-          FlightAware shows no adsb reporting from the time of failure as well.

Pictures are tagged with Zulu time, Aspen X picture was taken after landing on ground but it failed immediately after IFD went blank on all fields on approach.

All logs and pictures uploaded on the link below. Tech support will follow up with engineering to analyze logs so just want to share it out here if someone has any additional thoughts. .

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B99L_voHgNd5cmdlNVhMUjIzUGc?usp=sharing

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PA28-236 @N14

Replies:

Posted By: LANCE
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 7:19am

Could a bad external WAAS antenna on either the Aspen or IFD have taken the other antenna out?

Posted By: ronl
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 8:54am

I had a similar failure last fall with my IFD540. I was also in VMC at the time thank goodness.

In my case it turned out to be an internal failure of the 540's GPS hardware. I have a 540/440, APX322 remote transponder and Aspen EFD. I was able to switch the Aspen to GPS #2 (IFD440) for navigation but ATC lost my mode-C transponder return. My Aspen did not fail in attitude as yours did but did stay in revisionary mode.

When I landed at home base I taxied directly to my avionics shop. They sent the logs to Avidyne and Avidyne overnighted a replacement IFD540. I was back in business in less than 24 hours. Easy peasy. Way to go Avidyne!

BTW, you have a VERY nice panel!

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Ron L

Posted By: Sanjiv
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 5:29pm

Waiting for Avidyne to review logs and send me their feedback. If they have to replace 540, I might go for 550 instead 🤣 Avidyne staff!!! Are you listening? It's just a 6 month old install.

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PA28-236 @N14

Posted By: AzAv8r
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 9:43pm

The fact that the Aspen failed simultaneously is indicative of a non-IFD fault source. An Aspen with a DG has to be a PFD, and therefore (if installed properly) has a revision GPS in the RSM. For both to fail, I'd expect either an external electrical issue which caused damage to both, or a failure of some item which resulted in GPS interference clobbering the other instruments. Logs should provide more evidence.

What is the GPS source for the G5? Where is the 796 antenna (and the G5s, since it must have one) located relative to the Aspen RSM and Avidyne GPS antennas?

Posted By: Sanjiv
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 11:54am

796 antenna on glareshield. G5 uses internal GPS, iPad uses GDL39 on hat rack shelf. GPS failure started at Avidyne which followed by RSM reversion on avidyne as designed. Then somehow IFD failed to recapture GPS until rebooted. In mean time it could have caused either interference to RMU or a port communication which put Avidyne in confused mode and Aspen to X out.

Could have been many different issues. But for all of those to happen simultaneously is as likely as me hitting all the 6 numbers on lotto. Pitot had no issues, did a ground test yesterday and all pitot static checks come back good.

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PA28-236 @N14

Posted By: ddgates
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 12:02pm

Could you have had voltage irregularity? Seems like electrical power sensitivity is common to both units.

Most EDMs show and record voltage?

I agree it sounds like Avi culprit but the Aspen red x scenario doesn't fit.

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David Gates