engine stall after takeoff

[ViKe]

I startup and take off with no problems,

Every time i takeoff within 1 minute my engine shuts down and props bend.

This is just going in a straight line,no movement whatsoever.Not full throttle,just maintaining level flight.

I set the prop pitch to manual"(1230 position).

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[FoReIgNeR]

There are two main reasons why your engine stalls:

 

1) did you set the rpm governor to auto? If you leave it in manual without changing the set RPM, your engine will over-rev causing it to seize. If you do keep it in manual, ensure your RPM stays below 3000.

 

2) did you set the radiator to auto (or 'auf', open)? Failing to do this will overheat your engine causing it to seize.

[ViKe]

ill check those out

thanks for quick reply

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Yes, I believe that under most of the situations, the governor defaults to Manual mode.

 

When I first started using the K4, I thought I could only successfuly takeoff and land with prop set to that mode, but I soon realized it worked just good in Auto mode :-)

 

But, now before even starting to táxi, I make sure that it IS in Auto mode!

 

This being said, sometimes during climb to cruise, my engine get's problems, starts to sound weird. I am acostumed to the IL2-BOS interface where a damage log is presented in the screen, and you get to know what is going wrong. In DCS it works like IRL, and it's up to me to find out what caused the malfunction, and to find the best way to RTB... On 90% of the occasions these failures occur, the temps are ok, the radiators in Auto mode...

 

We have to pay attention to the published limitations. Use ATA 1.4 max during the climbs, preferably set it at 1.35.

 

I still do not know if I should always keep that MW-50 ON all of the time, even if not flying at higher power settings, or if I should only switch it on for a boost? It helps cooling the engine, so, maybe it should be left ON all of the time ?

[saburo_cz]

I read somewhere (sorry I do not remember where) that using engine with higher ATA (than 1,75?) without MW 50 was forbiden.

[Solty]

Yes, I believe that under most of the situations, the governor defaults to Manual mode.

 

When I first started using the K4, I thought I could only successfuly takeoff and land with prop set to that mode, but I soon realized it worked just good in Auto mode :-)

 

But, now before even starting to táxi, I make sure that it IS in Auto mode!

 

This being said, sometimes during climb to cruise, my engine get's problems, starts to sound weird. I am acostumed to the IL2-BOS interface where a damage log is presented in the screen, and you get to know what is going wrong. In DCS it works like IRL, and it's up to me to find out what caused the malfunction, and to find the best way to RTB... On 90% of the occasions these failures occur, the temps are ok, the radiators in Auto mode...

 

We have to pay attention to the published limitations. Use ATA 1.4 max during the climbs, preferably set it at 1.35.

 

I still do not know if I should always keep that MW-50 ON all of the time, even if not flying at higher power settings, or if I should only switch it on for a boost? It helps cooling the engine, so, maybe it should be left ON all of the time ?

Are you sure that you have the swich at the MW50 position. Because otherwise you are flooding the fueltank with water and that might cause an engine failure, because the system "thinks" that you have the MW50 tank filled with fuel and wants to get this fuel pumped into the main tank. At least that is what I have heard.:book:

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Are you sure that you have the swich at the MW50 position. Because otherwise you are flooding the fueltank with water and that might cause an engine failure, because the system "thinks" that you have the MW50 tank filled with fuel and wants to get this fuel pumped into the main tank. At least that is what I have heard.:book:

 

Good question, and it could answer my problem, but I have to understand it first ( sorry, English is not my native language :-/ )...

 

Do you mean I should have that switch at it's LEFT ( OFF ) position when not using ATA above 1.75, and just switch it to the RIGHT ( ON ) when higher power / boost / cooling needed ?

Edited December 20, 2014 by jcomm

[FoReIgNeR]

Good question, and it could answer my problem, but I have to understand it first ( sorry, English is not my native language :-/ )...

 

Do you mean I should have that switch at it's LEFT ( OFF ) position when not using ATA above 1.75, and just switch it to the RIGHT ( ON ) when higher power / boost / cooling needed ?

The MW-50 tank can be loaded with either methanol-water or normal fuel (at least for the D9, not 100% sure about the K4). If there is MW50 in the tank and you switch its operational mode to 'fuel' (in the D9 it's a red handle on your left), you flood the fuel lines with MW50 (bad idea). Vice versa, if there is fuel in the tank and you set the mode to MW50, you inject more fuel to to mixture which is also not a good idea. Both will kill your engine.

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

The MW-50 tank can be loaded with either methanol-water or normal fuel (at least for the D9, not 100% sure about the K4). If there is MW50 in the tank and you switch its operational mode to 'fuel' (in the D9 it's a red handle on your left), you flood the fuel lines with MW50 (bad idea). Vice versa, if there is fuel in the tank and you set the mode to MW50, you inject more fuel to to mixture which is also not a good idea. Both will kill your engine.

 

How do I know what's in the tank?

[FoReIgNeR]

How do I know what's in the tank?

By trusting your groundcrew. There is no way in game to check what's in the tank. The default in DCS is MW-50, but you can change this to fuel in the loadout screen in the mission editor.

 

I'm sure this is how it is for the D9, but I'm not behind my PC, so can't check for the K4. Is anyone able to verify this?

Edited December 20, 2014 by =FoReIgNeR=

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

By trusting your groundcrew. There is no way in game to check what's in the tank. The default in DCS is MW-50, but you can change this in the loadout screen in the mission editor.

 

Right ;-)

 

I hadn't check the loadout menu... Now I see it can be filled with MW50 mix or B4 fuel.

 

Thanks!

 

So, to summarize, for a noob like me in this kind of stuff...

 

1) I have to make sure the knob next to the tailwheel locking mechanism is in the Open position - the tank with the Mw50 mix is able to be used;

 

2) The switch in the left front panel is set to it's right position ( ON )

 

3) I can then leave it there for all of the flight, unless I get above 6000m, and it'll only come to play if I set tghe thrust to "emergency" power ( 1.75 - 1.80 ATA ).

 

??

[FoReIgNeR]

You are correct sir.

 

From the manual on the MW selector:

 

"The MW-B4 Selector on the left-hand side of the cockpit is used to set the MW 50 tank status. Please note that incorrectly setting this switch can have catastrophic results, by either feeding the water-methanol mixture into the fuel lines, or spraying aviation fuel into the supercharger."

 

Edit: The handle close to the tail wheel lock/unlock selects either MW50 or B4. The switch on the front dash enables the MW50 supercharger (right is on, left is off).

 

From the manual on MW50 use at altitude:

 

"At sea level, the engine runs at over 1800 hp with MW-50 enabled, compared to 1430 hp with the MW-50 off.

 

While the primary boost-increasing effects deteriorate with altitude, the secondary cooling effects are still noticeable.

 

The MW-50 system can therefore be used to cool down the engine at all altitudes in an event of an emergency.

 

The boost provided by the MW-50 begins to decrease in power at altitudes above 6,000 meters."

 

Thus you can use MW50 above 6000m to cool the engine, but the supercharger boost will be less effective.

Edited December 20, 2014 by =FoReIgNeR=

[ophiuchus]

1. Unless you're messing with loadout I think that lever can be left as is at mission start, since by default MW50 tank is filled with MW50 mix. Unless you changed its contents in mission editor. Then there is description next to that lever showing in what position it should be so you won't destroy your engine. However you still have to remember what is that tank filled with.

 

2. I think it's up to you whether you want to use boost or not. I leave it on off position for most of the flight, and I turn it on when I need more power. As for engine RPM I try not to exceed 2500 rpm. I still have to learn using ATA gauge, since RPM is indirect indicator of engine work.

 

3. See 2.

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Thank you guys!

[SkyCaptain109]

Engine Stall after T/O

 

Hey ViKe,

 

you have to be careful not to overspeed the engine, do not exceed 2600-2800 RPM and keep the prop pitch in manual and set it to 12:00 for take off. After lift oft reduce pitch to 11:30 and do your initial climb and clean up the aircraft. Then when you have reached your climb speed set prop pitch to auto.