Latest chapter in my Garmin autopilot story

[Dugaru]

It was kind of annoying when my brand new Garmin GSA28 pitch servo died not long after it was installed. It was more annoying to learn, from the distributor, that there had in fact been a "rash" of such failures.

To me, that qualified as "information that would have been nice to know before installing the servos."

In any event, I began waiting for the replacement pitch servo. Given the "rash" statement, I asked Garmin if they would also replace my roll servo. It was a consecutive serial number with the pitch servo, and it sounded like there was some sort of problem with the devices.

Garmin declined. I asked them, in a post here, how many servos had failed. Garmin said it was only a "low number." Garmin did not identify the number. For anyone interested in the exchange, it's here:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=148740

After someone in that thread suggested I contact Garmin offline, I did that. I was told the following:

"We have thousands of servos in the field, so if we put a percentage to servos in the field, to servo failures, it would probably be less than 1%.
Problem has been resolved on our end and I am confident this will not happen again."

So I got the pitch servo replaced, and left the roll servo as is.

Well, apparently I was lucky enough to hit a 1 in 100 chance two times in a row. Despite Garmin's confidence, today my roll servo died. Same error message, same apparent fault.

Note that I am not the only person that has had both Garmin servos die:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...08#post1173408

So that's at least two people who hit 1/100 odds twice in a row. We should head for the track.

The thing is, none of this hassle had to happen. If I had known that there had been a "rash" of failures, then I could have postponed my installation and installed reliable servos when Garmin had them ready. After blowing that opportunity, if Garmin had simply recalled these servos, then I'd have both of them replaced by now, and I would be happily heading for Cape Cod with a working autopilot.

Anyway, I thought somebody might find my story useful. I know I would have loved to have known this information before doing my panel upgrade.

[Steve Melton]

Bummer for the Garmin servo's. My neighbor is also fighting with his Garmin autopilot and has been for long time. I like my Trio Gold servo. Totally disconnects when not in use. No friction in the linkage.

[Dugaru]

Originally Posted by Steve Melton

Bummer for the Garmin servo's. My neighbor is also fighting with his Garmin autopilot. I like my Trio Gold servo. Totally disconnects when not in use. No friction in the linkage.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd be looking hard at the Trio.

[SMO]

Originally Posted by Steve Melton

I like my Trio Gold servo. Totally disconnects when not in use. No friction in the linkage.

Just in case it is implied otherwise - Garmin servos do the same.

[Dugaru]

Originally Posted by SMO

Just in case it is implied otherwise - Garmin servos do the same.

The overall design and capabilities seem pretty good. I'd actually have no complaints about my Garmin autopilot if it worked reliably.

I also like the G5, although it needs a better way to dismiss the servo fault message. When a servo fails, the warning blocks a big chunk of the screen, and the message doesn't go away until you turn off the unit, turn it back on in configuration mode, and disable the servo(s).

[Steve Melton]

Originally Posted by SMO

Just in case it is implied otherwise - Garmin servos do the same.

OK, I didn't know that.

[Walt]

Originally Posted by Dugaru

It was kind of annoying when my brand new Garmin GSA28 pitch servo died not long after it was installed. It was more annoying to learn, from the distributor, that there had in fact been a "rash" of such failures.

Anyway, I thought somebody might find my story useful. I know I would have loved to have known this information before doing my panel upgrade.

It appears to me that you are just venting your frustration about the failed servos and Garmin's handling of the situation rather than posting "useful" information.

Having been around avionics for a very long time, anyone who believes failures don't happen hasn't been around very long, or has just been plain lucky. In todays world where software drives almost everything 'glitches' crop up from time to time, they are usually addressed with software updates.

I don't think its fair to bash a company for not replacing a working unit as 'precautionary' measure just for your convenience.

Nobody likes failures but they do happen, its not the end of the world.

PS: Having flown behind most of the AP's out there, I happen to think the Garmin in best of the bunch and the easiest to use.

[TS Flightlines]

Doug---it might be worthwhile to have WALT look this over--

Tom

[Dugaru]

Originally Posted by Walt

It appears to me that you are just venting your frustration about the failed servos and Garmin's handling of the situation rather than posting "useful" information.

I am absolutely frustrated with the failed servos and Garmin's handling of the situation. If you think my frustration is unreasonable, or that I should keep quiet about it, or both, so be it.

But if I was choosing an autopilot right now, I'd find the information useful.

I must have missed the part where I called it "the end of the world."

I note that you are an authorized G3X dealer. Have you had any Garmin servos fail? My installer has seen three fail that I know of -- my two, and also one that he installed in another aircraft.

A surprising number of us seem to be hitting that 1 in 100 chance.

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by Dugaru

I'd actually have no complaints about my Garmin autopilot if it worked reliably.

I know it stinks to be one of the lucky ones but once you get these issues behind you, you will be amazed and will soon forget about all these initial issues... I know it does not help you but the vast majority of us have had stellar performance.