markserbu
Active Member
The day I bought my RV-8A and flew it home (March, 2021) I first encountered this problem. I was heading home to KVDF from visiting a buddy at KMLB, on autopilot, and somewhere just East of KORL's Bravo airspace the plane started heading for the sky! I pushed the stick forward...back to neutral, but it was like fighting a demon. Fairly strong; it felt like I was pushing against a 15+ pound spring. Maybe more. I was a bit freaked out the first time and I don't know how the problem was solved, but it was. I visit my buddy at least several times a year and without fail the plane does the same thing around that same area as I head home!! I figure it's some sort of electric gremlin but what on earth could trigger it in a fairly specific location? I finally got smart and was ready to pull the elevator trim circuit breaker when it happened, and I did. Didn't do anything. And of course turning off the autopilot was always the first thing I did, with no result. I finally know exactly what it's doing...electronic waves, Satan, random chance, or whatever...is setting full-up elevator trim. The indicator shows it. Solving it just takes pushing the trim down button and setting it back to neutral. No idea why it happens at that location (somewhere near DEARY), unless the intersection of two victor airways somehow creates enough electrical interference to cause it. Doesn't seem likely. But the other day I noticed that it "did it" after an aileron roll, and nowhere near the "usual spot". This would possibly point to a loose connection, I'd think. I have yet to dig through all the paperwork and see how the trim motor is connected to the control...I assume it's through a fairly powerful spring? Any thoughts on this crazy topic are appreciated!