Ka-50 Cold Weather Starting Problems (2.0.1)

[Mike Busutil]

When winter weather is loaded and the temperature is set to -34C, the engine startup is very slow after the start button is pressed and the "Start VLV" light comes on.

 

Is cold, thick oil modeled here at this temp causing the very slow spool up speed?

 

I have noticed if an auto start is used, the start procedure is so long the auto start procedure will try to start the right engine while the left engine is still trying to spool up causing the right engine to not start. (I was unable to manually start the right engine after this)

 

If the temperature is set to -35C or colder, the engines will not start at all (Either manual start or auto start). Is a no start at this temperature normal?

 

Thanks

 

:book:

[Sryan]

Are your de-icing systems for the pitot, engine intake and rotors set to active?

[Ashilta]

Hi Mike,

 

I've no experience in turbines in reality, but I know that on cold days the piston I fly can be a pig to start. It's entirely possible that, as you suggest, the cold is causing the movement of fluids around the engine to slow. Rotor anti-ice and pitot heat won't help unfortunately, as rotor icing won't impinge the engine start too much and the pitot is largely for avionics

 

There'll be a temperature at which any electrical device will stop functioning - it seems -35 degs is that temperature for the KA50.

 

I must admit I've not tinkered with the 50 in temperatures this cold, but certainly the colder it gets the slower the start is in my experience.

[Sryan]

you're right about rotor and pitot heat but I found it good habit to flick all switches for them at once ;) I just did a -40C cold start.

 

 

it was at kobuleti though, only a couple of feet higher than ASL, I could not get her started at the bases north of the mountains ( typically a few hundred feet ASL ). It could be the altitude or the fact it's typically slightly less cold ( on cold days ) along the coast than it is more inland. Not sure if that is modelled.

[Martillo1]

Temperature changes with altitude and time of day. The one you set is at sea level.

[flo57100]

Do you start your engines just after you started the APU or at least one minute later ?

[Jowen G. Bruère-Dawson]

Turn the anti ice systems after APU start, and when starting the engines, turn any anti ice off to have full power to your engines