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Abnormal Procedures

These procedures are derived from the efis-editor checklist file.

Abnormal

Loss of Fuel Pressure

  • Fuel Pressure … CHECK GREEN

    should be 45 PSI DIFF; auto-cutover trips when Borla output drops to 22 PSI absolute (Dynon DIFF varies with MAP)

  • Pump 2 Annunciator … VERIFY ENGAGED

    amber on EFII controller — Bus Manager auto-cutover

If Pump 2 not engaged:

  • Fuel Pump Mode … 2

    manual override

  • Fuel Selector … OTHER TANK

    rules out tank issue

If pressure restored:

  • Fuel Pump Mode … TRY 1/AUTO

    if Pump 1 actually failed, Bus Manager auto-cuts back to Pump 2 when Borla output drops to 22 PSI absolute

If Pump 2 fails after a cutover:

  • Fuel Pump Switch … CYCLE RAPIDLY

    1/AUTO - 2 - 1/AUTO resets the latch; Pump 1 reactivates

  • Plan Diversion … NEAREST SUITABLE

Single ECU Failure

Symptoms: rough running, EGT spread, ECU GRAY/RED on controller.

  • ECU Select … OPPOSITE ECU

  • Fuel Trim … ADJUST

    if sensor failure caused rich/lean condition

  • Power … REDUCE TO SMOOTH

  • Plan Diversion … NEAREST SUITABLE

Note: Once you’ve identified the bad ECU, do NOT switch back to test.

Door Open In Flight

⚠️ WARNING: FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST.

  • Airspeed … SLOW TO ~100 KIAS

    reduces airflow load on door

  • Door … DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLOSE

    cannot be re-latched against airflow

  • Occupant … BRACE / HOLD

  • Land … NEAREST SUITABLE

Autopilot Malfunction

Autopilot drifting, banking, or not tracking what you asked for.

Aircraft Control … MAINTAIN

  • Mode Annunciation … READ IT BEFORE TOUCHING ANYTHING

⚠️ WARNING: TRK on a coupled localizer means guidance is GONE. Dynon drops NAV to TRK silently on signal loss and does NOT recapture — NAV must be re-armed by hand.

  • Downgrade One Level … NAV → HDG, COUPLED → BASIC

    a simpler mode that works beats hand-flying in IMC

  • Control Wheel Steering … HOLD DISCONNECT, FLY, RELEASE

    repositions the airplane without giving up the autopilot

  • Autopilot … DISCONNECT

    if downgrading does not fix it

  • Trim … CHECK AND RESET

    the servo may have left the airplane well out of trim

Note: Manual force on the stick slips the servo clutches, so the airplane can always be overpowered.

Note: If it will not disconnect → Runaway Trim (Avionics Master OFF).

Brake Failure

Pedal goes soft or to the floor, or the airplane pulls on rollout.

Both Sides … TEST AT ALTITUDE OR ON DOWNWIND

find out whether it is one brake or both BEFORE committing

  • Pedals … PUMP

    may rebuild line pressure — usually will not

  • Co-Pilot Pedals … TRY

    separate master cylinders on the right side

Runway Choice:

  • Runway … LONGEST AND WIDEST AVAILABLE

    width matters more than length with one brake

  • Wind … HEADWIND OVER CROSSWIND

    a crosswind FROM the failed side helps steering, but never take a crosswind over a headwind to get it

Landing:

  • Touchdown … SLOWEST PRACTICAL — SHORT FIELD TECHNIQUE

  • Touchdown Position … SIDE OF THE FAILED BRAKE

    the working brake will walk you across the runway — leave room

  • Flaps … LEAVE AT 33º

    aerodynamic braking — this is the OPPOSITE of short-field rollout, where flaps come up to load the wheels

  • Elevator … FULL AFT

  • Directional Control … RUDDER, THEN GOOD BRAKE IN PULSES

    alternate the working brake against opposite rudder

  • S-Turns … GENTLE, IF ROOM

    lengthens the effective rollout

  • Key Switch … OFF ONLY IF GO-AROUND NO LONGER POSSIBLE

    removes residual thrust — but it is also the engine

Note: Grass beside the runway stops an airplane sooner than pavement.

Note: Taxi in slowly, or shut down and get towed.

Smoke / Smell Investigation

Use this when something smells off but no fire is visible.

  • Source … ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY

    electrical / oil / fuel / hot dust / exhaust

  • Recent Switch Activations … NOTE

    anything just turned on?

  • Vents … OPEN

  • Plan Diversion … NEAREST SUITABLE

    do not wait for it to escalate

Note: If smoke or visible fire develops → Electrical Fire / Smoke In Cockpit.

CO Alarm In Flight

CO Guardian audible alarm above 50 PPM. Most likely source: heat muff exhaust crack.

  • Cabin Heat … OFF

  • Vents … OPEN

  • Oxygen Mask … DON / CONSTANT FLOW

    especially at altitude — CO displaces O2 in blood

  • Land … AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE

Note: Have the heat muff and exhaust inspected before next flight.

Oxygen System Failure / Hypoxia

Symptoms: lightheadedness, tunnel vision, fingernails turning blue, fatigue. EDS-4iP not pulsing.

  • O2 Mode Switch … EMERGENCY (CONSTANT FLOW, ALL PORTS)

    panel toggle bypasses pulse-on-demand and supplies all ports continuously

  • Cannulas / Masks … VERIFY SEATED

  • Bottle Pressure … CHECK

  • Descend … BELOW 10,000 FT MSL

    if symptoms persist, declare and divert

Lost Communications — IFR

Troubleshoot:

  • Volume / Squelch / Frequency … CHECK

    headset jack and PTT; last assigned frequency, then the one before it

  • COM 2 / FTA-850 Handheld … TRY

    GTN COM 1 rides the essential bus; the handheld is the independent radio

  • Transponder … 7600

    then listen: Guard 121.5, FSS 122.2, the navaid voice channel

VMC now, or VMC encountered later:

  • Continue VFR … LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE

    §91.185(b) comes first — a suitable airport, not the nearest strip

IMC — route and altitude:

  • Route … ASSIGNED / VECTOR / EXPECTED / FILED

    A-V-E-F: last assigned; if on a vector, direct to the fix or route in that clearance; else what ATC said to expect; else as filed

  • Altitude … HIGHEST OF M-E-A, PER SEGMENT

    Minimum IFR altitude (MEA / MOCA / OROCA), Expected, Assigned — the highest of the three, re-checked at every segment

Arrival:

  • Clearance limit IS an IAF … DESCEND / APPROACH AT EFC — ELSE AT ETA

    hold until the EFC time or the flight-plan ETA; never start down early

  • Clearance limit NOT an IAF … LEAVE AT EFC — ELSE ON ARRIVAL, TO AN IAF

    then begin the approach as close to the ETA as possible

  • Approach … ANY PUBLISHED — FULL PROCEDURE

    own choice, no vectors are coming; fly the course reversal if charted

  • CTAF / AWOS … BLIND CALLS / MONITOR

    position and intentions on CTAF; lights 7 clicks; ATC is protecting the airspace on your ETA

Note: Comm regained at any point: call ATC, squawk the assigned code, continue the last clearance. After landing, close the flight plan by phone or FSS.