PIPER AIRCRAFT PA-34 SENECA SERIES AUTOPILOT SYSTEM
Autopilot Model Applicability
The Dynon 2-axis autopilot has been certified for installation into the Piper Aircraft PA-34-200T Seneca II, and PA-34-220T Seneca III, IV, and V models.
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SkyView Autopilot Details
Autopilot Features as of 01/2024
| Feature | Available |
|---|---|
| Straight and Level | ✓ |
| Roll modes: ROLL HOLD, HDG, TRK, HSI, GPS Steering | ✓ |
| Altitude Hold | ✓ |
| Altitude Pre-Select | ✓ |
| Altitude Change via VS or IAS | ✓ |
| VNAV/Glideslope | ✓ |
| Fully-coupled approaches (GPS/VNAV/LPV/GS/LOC/ILS) | ✓ |
| Flight Director | ✓ |
| Yaw Damper | ✓* |
| SkyView Trim Guidance | ✓** |
| SkyView Trim Controller | ✓*** |
| SkyView Trim Speed Scheduling | ✓*** |
| Autopilot Auto-Trim | ✓*** |
* The Yaw Damper is currently available for Beechcraft Bonanza 35 and 36 series models with approved autopilot.
** SkyView Trim Guidance alerts the pilot that nose up or nose down trim needs to be applied to keep the aircraft in trim.
*** Trim control features including Autopilot Auto-Trim require the installation of the SV-AP-TRIMAMP and SV-AP-PANEL. The aircraft must also have an electric trim system installed via original equipment, an existing STC, or other certification means. The SkyView STC is not grounds for installation of a trim motor.
This feature is currently available on Cessna 182, Beech 35 series, Beech 36 series, Beech Baron 58 series, and Piper Seneca aircraft with Dynon Autopilot installed.
For more information, please see the SV-AP-TRIMAMP Trim Motor Adapter product page.
Pilot Interface
The optional SkyView Autopilot integrates with SkyView HDX to provide you with automated control of your airplane in the pitch and roll axes. This means that you can command the autopilot to follow your pre-defined flightplan, fly direct-to a waypoint, VOR, or airport, and turn to and maintain the heading or track of your preference. The autopilot will also climb or descend to and maintain the altitude of your choice using either vertical speed or airspeed to control the climb and descent rate. The autopilot will fly any instrument precision approach or non-precision approach when your aircraft is equipped with a compatible third-party IFR navigation device.
Yaw control is also available for select aircraft in the form of a yaw damper. The SkyView Autopilot yaw damper will counter the effects of yaw instability by maintaining a centered slip/skid indicator. Minor yaw instability often reveals itself during turbulence. Some airplanes will generate lateral G oscillations (tail-wag) when turbulence is encountered. The result is an uncomfortable ride that can contribute to airsickness of sensitive passengers. Some airplanes generate opposing yaw when rolling into a turn, which requires the coordinated application of rudder to keep the slip/skid indicator centered. If your airplane has this adverse yaw tendency, the yaw damper will aid the autopilot during heading changes by applying the necessary rudder to maintain a coordinated turn. If your airplane experiences either of these two conditions, ride comfort and autopilot performance will be improved if you install the yaw damper with your autopilot.
Autopilot Menu
Autopilot Control Menu
The control menu has two or three buttons across the top, depending on whether the yaw damper has been installed or not. The button marked AP engages the autopilot. The button marked FD will turn on the Flight Director when flying manually with the autopilot not engaged (the flight director turns on automatically when the autopilot is engaged). The third button will engage the Yaw Damper, if installed. The green indicators on each button provide the status for each system.
Below the top row of buttons are where the various control modes are located. These buttons divide into the roll and pitch modes.
The Roll modes include HDG (heading), TRK (track), NAV (navigation) and HSI SRC (Horizontal Situation Indicator Source Selector).
The Pitch modes consist of ALT HOLD (altitude hold), VS (vertical speed) VNAV (vertical navigation, and IAS (indicated airspeed). ALT HOLD, VS, and IAS all have pilot selectable values associated. VS mode is expressed in the rate of feet per minute the pilot desires to climb or descend. IAS mode simply selects the current speed the airplane is traveling at, and maintains this speed while climbing or descending. The nose up and nose down button allows the pilot to increase or decrease the vertical control mode value, which could be vertical speed or the airplane's indicated airspeed, depending on the selected mode. VNAV mode either arms or engages the approach mode with vertical guidance that has been selected for the desired approach.
AP Status Indication
When the autopilot is engaged, one of the pilot’s tasks is to monitor the autopilot system. To monitor the system, the pilot needs to understand the autopilot's status at all times. To accomplish this, the SkyView display provides the autopilots status continuously via the AP Status bar located on the top left of the Primary Flight Display.When the autopilot is not engaged, the autopilot status will be empty with the letters AP displayed in white.
AP Status Bar indicating that the autopilot is not engaged
When the autopilot is engaged, the AP Status Bar will provide all of the autopilot status information:
AP Status Bar indicating that the autopilot is engaged
The autopilot status bar is divided into three zones, roll status to the left, autopilot engagement status in the center, and pitch status on the right. When the autopilot is engaged, the AP letters will be displayed in green. Because the roll and pitch modes can be engaged separately, green arrows will also appear to indicate the engaged mode- roll, pitch, or both, as shown below. White pitch or roll status represents armed modes. Armed modes are modes that will automatically engage when certain parameters are met.
AP Status Bar Information Zones
In the roll status area, the roll mode selected by the pilot is displayed, along with the pilot selected value associated with that mode. In the depicted case above, the pilot has selected heading (HDG) mode, which means the autopilot will steer the airplane by turning to and maintaining the heading selected by the pilot, in this case 185 degrees magnetic. The roll status may include an armed mode that the autopilot will transition to automatically when a selected target has been reached. In this case, no modes are armed.
The pitch status appears on the right hand side of the autopilot status bar. This area displays the selected pitch mode and the pilot selected value. In this case, vertical speed has been selected as the pitch mode, and 500 feet per minute has been selected as the value. The pitch status may include the armed mode that the autopilot will transition to automatically when a selected target has been reached. In the example, the armed pitch mode is ALT (altitude hold).
The figure below represents examples of the forms of status that can be displayed on the Autopilot Status Bar.
| INDICATION | DISPLAY | MEANING |
|---|---|---|
 |
AP is white and no other indications are shown. | Autopilot is OFF. The Flight Director is OFF. |
 |
AP is white. The lateral and vertical modes and pilot-set values are cyan. | Autopilot is OFF. Flight Director is ON with HDG and ALT modes active. |
 |
AP is green and vertical mode pointer is green, vertical mode, and pilot-set values are cyan. | Autopilot is ON. Flight Director is ON. Altitude Hold mode is engaged. No lateral modes are engaged. |
 |
AP and both lateral and vertical pointers are green. The lateral and vertical modes, and associated pilot-set values are cyan. | The autopilot is ON. The Flight Director is ON. The lateral mode is heading, the vertical mode is altitude hold. |
 |
AP and both lateral and vertical arrows are green, the lateral and vertical modes, and associated pilot-set values are cyan. The Green vertical arrow is scrolling up or down. | Autopilot is ON Flight Director is ON. The lateral mode is heading, the vertical mode is altitude hold. Auto-trim is commanding a pitch trem adjustment. |
 |
AP and both lateral and vertical arrows are green, the lateral and vertical modes, and associated pilot-set values are cyan. Armed vertical mode is white with white arrow. | Autopilot is ON. Flight Director is ON. Lateral mode is heading, vertical mode is vertical speed. Altitude capture and hold mode is armed for future automatic engagement. |
 |
AP and both lateral and vertical arrows are green, the lateral mode and associated pilot-set value is cyan. The vertical mode and associated pilot-set value alternate between cyan-on-black background, and black-on-cyan background (flashing). | Autopilot is ON. Flight Director is ON. Lateral mode is heading, vertical mode has automatically transitioned to altitude capture and hold mode. Lateral and vertical modes and the pilot-set values will flash for 10 seconds during an automated mode transition from armed to active. |
Yaw Damper Control
Yaw Damper Status Indicator
To independently engage the Yaw Damper, select the YD button on the autopilot control menu. The YD button light will turn green when engaged, and the Slip/Skid Indicator will appear green, with the letters YD in black. To disengage the Yaw Damper, toggle the YD button on the autopilot control menu to off. The green YD button light will extinguish.
Yaw Damper status is also provided on the PFD. The Slip/Skid Indicator (Ball) will change its appearance when the Yaw Damper is engaged from white to green, with the letters YD, as shown in the figure below.
Because the Yaw Damper provides active control of the rudder, it should be deactivated when manual flight maneuvering is required, such as when entering an airport traffic pattern. However, if forgotten, applying pressure on a rudder pedal when the Yaw Damper is engaged will just override the Yaw Damper and cause the Yaw Damper servo to slip, just as the autopilot servos do.
Autopilot Flight Director
SkyView Flight Director Styles
To fly manually with the flight director on, configure the autopilot control menu as described above, but instead of pushing the AP button, push the FD button instead. The flight director will immediately begin to move in the configured manner, and you will need to maneuver the airplane to match the flight director queues displayed on the PFD.
SkyView provides two selectable flight director styles to choose from.
Instrument Panel-Mounted Controls
While the SkyView display’s autopilot control menu, along with the display’s knobs can be used to operate the autopilot, an assortment of optional instrument panel-mounted controls are also available that provide direct-button access to the autopilot modes and functions.Autopilot Control Panel
Vertical and Horizontal Panel-Mounted AP Control Panels
The autopilot control panel also provides Auto-Trim. The autopilot control panel includes a trim system controller, which is intended to allow the autopilot to automate the use of your electric pitch and roll trim systems, should your airplane be equipped. Auto-trim is not required, but it is very nice to have, as the autopilot will always keep the airplane in trim. Without Auto-trim, the pilot will simply respond to trim input commands displayed on the PFD by applying trim manually.
Autopilot Disconnect Button
Autopilot Level Button
Pressing the Level button (or Straight and Level Mode) will immediately command the autopilot to pitch the airplane to zero vertical speed and roll it to zero degrees of bank. It will not attempt to fly the airplane to any previous altitude, heading or track, and it will not respect any bug inputs. It will maintain the level pitch and bank attitudes, on the heading and altitude at which it recovered to. When activated, Level Mode will engage the Autopilot if it was not already engaged.
Note that the autopilot control panel includes a level button. Locating this button in the co-pilot position however, adds an additional level of safety. While the primary purpose of this safety feature is to aid the pilot’s recovery from an unusual attitude should the pilot lose the visual horizon and become confused. The Level button may also be used by the person seated in the right seat to quickly engage the autopilot should the pilot be incapacitated.
Yaw Damper Button
Knob Control Panel
Vertical and Horizontal Panel-Mounted Knob Control Panel
This panel is optional. All of these functions are adjustable by using one of the two knobs on the display. Many pilots find having dedicated controls to be a significant workload reducer.
Safety Features
The SkyView autopilot has many features designed to protect the airplane and its occupants.
Flight Envelope Protection
SkyView’s Autopilot system provides a number of safety features to protect the airplane and pilot from any system faults or failures, and some pilot operation errors. The Autopilot automatically protects the aircraft envelope while the autopilot is engaged. The autopilot will not, however, self-engage to protect the aircraft envelope while flying manually. The SkyView autopilot flight envelope protective features are listed below.G Limit Protection
- Prevents the total vertical aircraft acceleration from exceeding -0 and +2 Gs.
- Temporarily overrides all vertical axis control modes as long as the G limit is exceeded.
Airspeed Protection
- Limits the maximum airspeed to: VNE - 5%. The VNE value is configurable for your airplane.
- Limits the minimum airspeed to: VS0 + 30%. The VS0 value is configurable for your airplane.
- Overrides all vertical axis modes except G limit for as long as the above conditions are exceeded.
- Prevents autopilot from being engaged outside of the minimum and maximum control speeds.
Bank Limit Protection
- Control inputs will not exceed 35° or a lower maximum that is configured by the installer during system installation.
Take Off Protection
- Autopilot automatically disengages if the autopilot is already engaged as airspeed comes alive (~20 kts) to prevent the airplane from taking off with the autopilot engaged. This allows the autopilot to be engaged on the ground for operation testing and maintenance.
Mode Fail-Down
- Autopilot will fail down to a less complex mode if the current or requested function is no longer possible.
- Prevents autopilot from disconnecting when data from an external source is lost.
- When such a fail-down occurs, the autopilot mode flashes and is replaced with the new mode. A visual and audio cue is generated for such mode changes.
| Engaged Mode | Primary Fail-Down Mode | Secondary Fail-Down Mode |
|---|---|---|
| NAV | TRK | HDG |
| TRK | HDG | Autopilot Disconnects |
| HDG | TRK | Autopilot Disconnects |
| IAS | ALT | Autopilot Disconnects |
| VNAV | ALT | Autopilot Disconnects |
| VS | Autopilot Disconnects | Not Applicable |
| ALT | Autopilot Disconnects | Not Applicable |
Servo Break-Away
- Each Autopilot servo has a shear-screw that will break-away when applied force to the control reaches a maximum value.
- The shear-screw provides protection should the servo become jammed and prevent the flight control system from moving.
- The pilot must overcome the servo break-away force if a flight control fails to move as expected and is jammed by the autopilot servo. Breaking the shear-screw frees the flight controls from the affected servo.
Autopilot Alert Annunciations
The autopilot will provide both visual and aural alerts designed to both attract your attention, and inform you with the required action you must take to preserve the autopilot’s performance.Servo Break-Away
Trim Alert Examples
Servo Slip Alerts
Roll, Pitch, and Yaw Slip Alert Examples
- Turbulent air.
- The pilot overriding the flight controls.
- Significant Out-of-trim condition for the affected control.
Slip+Trim Alerts
Slip Trim Alert Example
Airspeed Alerts
Airspeed High/Low Alert Example
Level Button
Pressing the Level button (or Straight and Level Mode) will immediately command the autopilot to pitch the airplane to zero vertical speed and roll it to zero degrees of bank. It will not attempt to fly the airplane to any previous altitude, heading or track, and it will not respect any bug inputs. It will maintain the level pitch and bank attitudes, on the heading and altitude at which it recovered to. When activated, Level Mode will engage the Autopilot if it was not already engaged.The primary purpose of this safety feature is to aid the pilot’s recovery from an unusual attitude should the pilot lose the visual horizon and become confused. It may also be used to quickly turn the autopilot on to have the autopilot momentarily take over when you’re otherwise hand-flying the aircraft.
Operating Modes
The autopilot uses control modes and in some cases, control functions, to accomplish certain kinds of automated tasks. The pilot chooses the mode or function that matches what the pilot wants to accomplish. The roll modes maneuver the airplane left and right, laterally across the ground. The vertical control modes maneuver the airplane vertically, to change an altitude by climbing or descending, as well as maintain a selected altitude.
LEVEL (Straight and Level) Function
Pressing the Level button (or Straight and Level Mode) will immediately command the autopilot to pitch the airplane to zero vertical speed and roll it to zero degrees of bank. It will not attempt to fly the airplane to any previous altitude, heading or track, and it will not respect any bug inputs. It will maintain the level pitch and bank attitudes, on the heading and altitude at which it recovered to. When activated, Level Mode will engage the Autopilot if it was not already engaged.The primary purpose of this safety feature is to aid the pilot’s recovery from an unusual attitude should the pilot lose the visual horizon and become confused. It may also be used to quickly turn the autopilot on to have the autopilot momentarily take over when you’re otherwise hand-flying the aircraft.
HDG (Heading Hold) Mode
When the HDG button is pushed, and the pilot has selected a heading, the autopilot will turn the airplane in the shortest angular direction to reach the selected heading. The autopilot will capture the selected heading by decreasing the turn rate to zero as it rolls out onto the selected heading. The autopilot will maintain this heading until commanded otherwise. If a heading has not been selected when heading mode is engaged, the system will default to maintaining the current heading. When this occurs, the pilot may then change the selected heading using the heading selector, and the autopilot will turn toward and capture the new selected heading.
TRK (Track Hold) Mode
When the TRK button is pushed, and the pilot has selected a track, the autopilot will turn the airplane in the shortest angular direction to reach the selected track. The autopilot will capture the selected track by decreasing the turn rate to zero as it rolls out onto the selected track. The autopilot will maintain this track until commanded otherwise. If a track has not been selected when heading mode is engaged, the system will default to maintaining the current track. When this occurs, the pilot may then change the selected track using the track selector, and the autopilot will turn toward and capture the new selected ground track.
ROLL (Roll Hold) Mode
The roll hold mode is the default roll mode used by the system when the autopilot is engaged without a roll mode selected in advance. In roll hold mode, the autopilot will hold the current bank angle, or the maximum bank angle limit, whichever is smaller, until commanded otherwise.
NAV (Navigation) Mode
The autopilot follows the pilot selected navigation guidance as depicted on the HSI. This can be SkyView’s flight plan or guidance from connected third-party sources, such as a NAV radio or IFR GPS Navigator.
VS (Vertical Speed) Mode
The autopilot will climb or descend while maintaining the selected vertical speed (aircraft performance permitting) and shall do so until commanded otherwise. If a target altitude has been selected, the autopilot will reduce the vertical speed to zero to stop the climb or descent on the selected altitude. Upon capturing the altitude, the autopilot automatically changes to ALT mode to maintain the altitude.
IAS (Indicated Airspeed) Mode
The autopilot will climb or descend while maintaining the selected airspeed, providing the pilot increases or decreases power. The autopilot will control the airplane's speed with the elevator, and shall do so until commanded otherwise, aircraft performance permitting. If a target altitude has been selected, the autopilot will reduce the vertical speed to zero to stop the climb or descent on the selected altitude. Upon capturing the altitude, the autopilot automatically changes to ALT mode to maintain the altitude.
ALT (Altitude Hold) Mode
The autopilot will maintain the pilot selected altitude. This may be the captured altitude after a climb or descent, or the current altitude at which the mode is engaged. Altitude hold mode is also the default pitch mode used by the system when the autopilot is engaged without a pitch mode selected in advance.
VNAV (Vertical Navigation) Mode
The autopilot will capture and track the glideslope or glidepath of the chosen approach type down to the pilot selected Minimum Altitude, when the approach procedure requires the pilot to take manual action.
GA (Go Around) Function
The Go Around function can be activated by pressing the Nose Up button when the autopilot is engaged in vertical guidance such as a VNAV or GS approach. Pushing Nose Up switches the lateral mode to TRK, and vertical mode to the configured Go Around climb mode (either VS or IAS mode, depending on configuration.)
This kit contains the pitch and yaw servo bracketry, capstan accessories, and standard hardware required to install the pitch servo into your Seneca.
This kit contains the roll servo bracketry, capstan accessories, and standard hardware required to install the roll servo into your Seneca.
The Autopilot Servo Harness is 20 feet long and contains color-coded wiring for the SkyView network connections along with servo power and ground. This kit contains all connectors and hardware.
The SkyView Autopilot Disconnect Button provides a means for quickly disconnecting the autopilot when desired.
The SkyView Autopilot Level button enhances safety by allowing the pilot or passenger to command the autopilot to recover the airplane from an unusual attitude.
The Autopilot Control Panel provides the pilot with direct-button access for controlling all of the autopilot functions, which eliminates the need to open the autopilot control menu on the display. The panel also incorporates the required Level button. The control panels are available in either horizontal or vertical orientations.
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