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An EA500 pilot experienced electrical and flap extension anomalies during approach. The problems went away when he shut down and restarted the electrical system. He later learned this 're-setting' procedure was not authorized for use unless the aircraft is on the ground.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 920093 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201011 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | LAA.Airport |
| State Reference | CO |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Eclipse 500 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Flap Control (Trailing & Leading Edge) |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80 Flight Crew Total 8500 Flight Crew Type 80 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
While on a VFR approach to a non-towered airport I noticed the flap handle did not match the indication of the flap. I initiated a missed approach and stayed in the airport area while I did the checklist and tried to reset the flaps; to no avail. We have had similar things happen electrically with eclipses and; if you power the aircraft down electrically and then re-apply power the systems seem to 'reset' and all works fine. Normally this happens on the ground.after doing the checklist and still having the problem; I had a choice to fly 100 miles to the home station of the airplane where the mechanic was to try to do a re-set while in the air. The weather was no issue. I was in uncontrolled airspace with no one around and four runways at my disposal if for some reason I needed to land.I decided to shut down electrically; waited about a minute and then re-applied battery power just as I would on the ground. When the computers were up and running normally I re-connected the generators. Everything in the airplane was normal; I operated the flaps and landing gear a couple of times and everything functioned like it was supposed to. 'Re-setting' the electrical system fixed the glitch in the computer.after speaking with people associated with factory engineers and more experienced pilots. I now know the re-setting function is only to be used on the ground. I should have flown home since I had plenty of fuel and the weather was VFR.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An EA500 pilot experienced electrical and flap extension anomalies during approach. The problems went away when he shut down and restarted the electrical system. He later learned this 're-setting' procedure was not authorized for use unless the aircraft is on the ground.
Narrative: While on a VFR approach to a non-towered airport I noticed the flap handle did not match the indication of the flap. I initiated a missed approach and stayed in the airport area while I did the checklist and tried to reset the flaps; to no avail. We have had similar things happen electrically with Eclipses and; if you power the aircraft down electrically and then re-apply power the systems seem to 'reset' and all works fine. Normally this happens on the ground.After doing the checklist and still having the problem; I had a choice to fly 100 miles to the home station of the airplane where the mechanic was to try to do a re-set while in the air. The weather was no issue. I was in uncontrolled airspace with no one around and four runways at my disposal if for some reason I needed to land.I decided to shut down electrically; waited about a minute and then re-applied battery power just as I would on the ground. When the computers were up and running normally I re-connected the generators. Everything in the airplane was normal; I operated the flaps and landing gear a couple of times and everything functioned like it was supposed to. 'Re-setting' the electrical system fixed the glitch in the computer.After speaking with people associated with factory engineers and more experienced pilots. I now know the re-setting function is only to be used on the ground. I should have flown home since I had plenty of fuel and the weather was VFR.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.