XP Weather = Uncontrollable Spin

[Nelson L.]

Was flying the FlyJSim 732 from VNY to Vegas this evening. Was on the NUAL8 and had been cleared direct palmdale. About 30 or so miles out, I went heads down to tune in Edwards and ident it (for crosschecking a fix). Next thing I know, I head bank angle warnings (autopilot was on and set to IAS 280 to 27000 and LOC for DCT PMD) and look up to see an uncontrollable spin. No amount of rudder+aileron would save it - flight instantly done... Looking at the replay, everything was smooth until the aircraft suddenly was jolted and went into the spin. I'm assuming its weather - I would go into more detail by my Nvidia Driver crashed (again), causing XP to quit. Any ideas?

Note - I think it may have been a fire warning as well, although I can't be sure as my memory is shaky. I do remember turning down the engines to climb thrust though, so I think it may just be my imagination...

[chevyrules]

I can only imagine if you didn't hit a button that disconnected the autopilot or anything, the weather update was so sudden and a drastic change that the wonderful yaw damper sent you over.

[wmburns]

Do you have random failures enabled in X-Plane? Is it possible that a random failure played a role?

[mmerelles]

this is known problem of the "yaw damper", leave it off for cruising and/or for the entire flight if you expect to encounter any thunderstorms/winds/turbulence!

the yaw damper over reacts to cross winds getting the plane into an incontrolable spin or frame over-g crash. This behavior is quite common while the weather engine updates, the winds may change direction over a fraction of a second, the yaw damper over reacts, then over reacts to its already over reaction and so on... until the plane crashes. Disable the yaw damper immediately, or better leave it always off.

the developers have said they have already put a new yaw damper logic in place for the next update coming

[Nelson L.]

Probably. I usually turn it off for approaches and takeoffs, but I like to keep the recall looking nice in cruise. Never had it happen before or since (which is why I was confused), but better safe than sorry.

[mmerelles]

I used to fly a lot over the Argentina's Patagonia region before joining PE, winds are quite strong and changing over that part of the globe at any altitude. It was almost imposible to takeoff/land/cruise on the 732 having yaw damper on.
Takeoffs and landings will end up running aside off the runway, cruising ends up crashing due to uncontrollable spin or frame over-g
Once i researched the problem and seen the developers comments, turned yaw damper off for the entire flight and problem solved.

I was testing xplane 10.40 beta two months ago which introduce winds aloft, it is really nice, you face changing winds direction & intensity at different FLs as supposed to be. But yaw damper issue gets even worst under a more dynamic weather.

I love the FJS732, not a big deal to me leaving the yaw damper off until the update comes into play.

[stevekirks]

I posted some stuff over in the support forum about battery issues--traced it for sure down to moving the start switches to "flight" during the after takeoff checklist. I've also started with Yaw Damper off in the procedure too.

I've got the XP sensitivity settings jacked to "too sensitive" - can someone post what they are using for controller sensitivities so I can reset?

mmerelles - thanks for the notes over there to try to help

[Nelson L.]

Think I'll let you guys test out the new Yaw Damper

Release Notes:
New Sounds
Switches, knobs, buttons, etc, all now have 3d positioned sounds, recorded from actual 737 panels.
Added APU sounds.
Added Trim wheel sound,
Added spoiler arm deploy sound for landing
Added spoiler deploy low rumble
New Systems added
Added Instrument Comparator system
Added GPWS system, with new system sounds and functionality
Added Compass/NAV/Vert Gryo switching system
Added Trip/Date recorder system. You can change these to whatever you like, hit button and it saves.
Added Compass system panels.
Changed graphics on cockpit voice recorder panel, including the test needle animation
Added 3d CIVA panel for those who have CIVA installed on this aircraft.
Added voice recorder test functionality(needle moves)
New options
Added Option to disable Copilot Callouts
Added option to disable the Weight and Balance system from changing X-Planes values for payload and CG. This is a fix for FS-Economy users.
Added option to remove HF wire.
Vcard changes
Added trim setting to the takeoff Vcard
EPR setting on Vcard for takeoff now changes, usually for hot and height takeoffs. When the Vcard is open to takeoff, the EPR bug on the engine display is updated for you.
If takeoff flaps are not set in the Vcard, they will sync to your takeoff flaps when passing 80 kts during your takeoff roll to ensure you get the proper bugs and callout for V1/rotate
New Pushback system
Added Pushback popup system, activated by hitting the Gnd Call button on the center overhead.
Gives option for Manual pushback, or automatic pushback.
Auto Pushback allows you to set distance, tail turn, turn degree.
Can display a ghost of the aircraft as an estimate of the pushed position.
Cockpit light changes
Added light glow to several annunciator lights in the cockpit, including the park brake light, trim light, marker lights, Fire lights and some radio lights.
Exterior lighting
Added cabin lighting to exterior
Smart Copilot
Smart Copilot files updated to reflect system changes.
With 3D CIVA, now synced. Master controlled.
Bugs fixed:
Fixed bug in APU bleed pressure staying around even if APU was turned off.
PAX chimes now sound when turned off as well.
Fixed Engine start sounds playing when no bleed pressure to start engines.
Fixed BUSS typo.
Fixed typos in options menu.
Fixed issue where the Flight Director knob would not turn to approach mode.
Fixed the stick shaker sound not playing with the system test.
Fixed issue were aircraft would turn the wrong way when capturing the ILS.
Spoilers now retract if throttle moved up for takeoff while in ground.
Fixed issue with yaw damper being too sensitive in turbulence. You can now keep it on.
Fixed door position for autogate.
Fixed Gen drive temp issue where they were only shown if generator was attached to the bus.
Added breakaway thrust so the plane will no longer roll forward with idle thrust at the gate or after pushback.
Fixed APU fuel consumption, APU now takes fuel from the left tank.
Fixed issue with APU sound playing when no fuel in left tank
Fixed HDG and CRS displays from showing values greater than 360.
Fixed some LIT texture bugs on the copilot side.
Added text for the aft console FLOOR and PANEL lights.
Map FMS red line removed from the weather radar.
Fixed fuel valve closed lights. Now show as dim.
Fixed Vertical gyros to be wound down on cold and dark properly
Redid the autobrake system. Now should work properly, with proper deceleration rates.

[chevyrules]

Yaw damper works fine in the update. Never had issues with it. It's fixed.