S-TEC Fifty Five X - Document Organization; Purpose of Pilots Handbook; General Control Theory

3rd Ed. Sep 30, 06 1-3
S–TEC
1.1 Document Organization
Section 1 Overview
Section 2 Pre-Flight Procedures
Section 3 In-Flight Procedures
Section 4 Operating Parameters
Section 5 Glossary
1.2 Purpose
This Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) provides Pre-Flight and In-Flight
operating procedures for the S-TEC System Fifty Five X Autopilot (AP).
Note:
This POH must be carried in the A/C and made available to the pilot at
all times. It can only be used in conjunction with the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) approved Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Aircraft Flight
Manual Supplement (AFMS). Refer to the applicable AFM or AFMS for
A/C specific information, such as unique ground tests, limitations, and
emergency procedures.
Note:
The System Fifty Five X autopilot is a tool provided to aircraft owners, that
serves to assist them with cockpit workload management. The ability of the
autopilot to provide optimum assistance and performance is directly
proportional to the pilot's knowledge of its operating procedures. Therefore,
it is highly recommended that the pilot develop a thorough understanding of
the autopilot, its modes, and operating procedures in Visual Meteorological
Conditions (VMC), prior to using it under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
1.3 General Control Theory
The System Fifty Five X is a rate based autopilot. When in control of the roll axis,
the autopilot senses turn rate, as well as closure rate to the selected course,
along with the non-rate quantities of heading error, course error, and course
deviation indication. When in control of the pitch axis, the autopilot senses
vertical speed, acceleration, and closure rate to the selected glideslope, along
with the non-rate quantities of altitude and glideslope deviation indication. These
sensed data provide feedback to the autopilot, which processes them in order to
control the aircraft through the use of mechanisms coupled to the control
system. In most aircraft, the roll servo is coupled to the ailerons. The pitch
servo is coupled to the elevator. Activation of roll axis control must always
precede activation of pitch axis control.
The optional autotrim function senses when the aircraft needs to be trimmed
about the pitch axis, and responds by driving the trim servo in the proper
direction to provide trim. The trim servo is coupled to the elevator trim tabs.
The optional yaw damper senses excessive adverse yaw about the yaw axis,
and responds by driving the yaw servo in the proper direction to provide
damping. The yaw servo is coupled to the rudder.