DHC-3T pitching to the right

[robains]

Tested non-float versions last night, no problems with taxi and no issues with pitching one way or the other.

Cheers, Rob.

[larryrobinson22]

Hi Guys,

Regarding Rob's post, initially I had several engine failures until it dawned on me that I was not watching the appropriate gauges closely and was applying too much power. No excuse in that I had in fact read the FAQ!

For the first couple of flights (just P3D v3.4 as of now) I had engine control problems and some other unexpected behavior. In going through things, I remembered that some time ago I had disabled the XML Tools in the dll.xml while I was sorting out another unrelated problem and had not flown since. Installing the new aircraft does not automatically re-enable the XML Tools so it's at least something to check. With these operator errors fixed, the Turbo Otter is so amazingly realistic. For the last couple of years I've taken a couple of Kenmore Air flights to Canada and back each year and most of the time I end up in one of Kenmore's Otters. The sounds alone are worth the price of admission. I could close my eyes as the T Otter warms up and be in the real thing. I could go on....

Larry

[wells]

There is an issue where if you land on water with the wheels down ( amphib, the indicator in the cockpit is backwards ), and crash detection turned off, the plane will skate along at 45 knots with frozen controls ( yoke and pitch trim ). You can slew back into the air to correct the problem, then raise the wheels.

[robains]

Per Wells, that's exactly the issue I'm seeing also ... but where it becomes a problem is when transition from water to land. I know nothing on how one transitions the DHC-3T from water to land but my assumption was to lower or raise the wheel pending entering or exiting land. As soon as I do this in water the aircraft starts bouncing around and becomes uncontrollable.

The pitching to the right issue still remains on water along with taxi issue (>20Kts to be able to turn the aircraft).

Blowing the engine up is perhaps my problem, but none of the gauges indicate a problem (all in their respective green envelops) ... I guess I was expecting some sort of gauge clue that might give me some warning? I have no real world experience with this aircraft, but is the engine really that fragile? I also thought of the DHC-3 as being a back country rugged aircraft, maybe that only applies to the piston variant?

I've research several DHC-3T accidents and found several related to broken/cracked servo tabs and many were pilot error with incorrect weight distribution so it does appear the aircraft is very sensitive to weight distribution ... gives me an idea, I'll try a flight with Pilot only.

Cheers, Rob.

[wells]

The steering issue is tied to the switch that selects tailwheel lock or steering mode. When the switch is off ( castoring mode ), you can't steer below 5 knots or so ( the gauge reads close to 20 mph at 5 knts ). As an interim fix, put the switch in steering mode. I believe this will be fixed for seaplanes in the service pack. I still can't reproduce the right turn thing. Are there other amphib models that allow you to have gear extended in the water without crashing? I've never tried transitioning from water to land or vise-versa.

[Taguilo]

Blowing the engine up is perhaps my problem, but none of the gauges indicate a problem (all in their respective green envelops) ... I guess I was expecting some sort of gauge clue that might give me some warning?

There's no gauge clue here, as there is none in real. However, I suggest you read point (3) of FAQ sticky post, it might help.

I have no real world experience with this aircraft, but is the engine really that fragile?

It is, when limits are exceeded. It's like real, it won't fail perhaps today, but as long as exceedances accumulate in different flights there will be a moment when it surely will.

Tomas