DA42 gear alarm

Any DA42 related topics.

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1327 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

DA42 gear alarm

Post by Boatguy »

What power setting or configuration triggers the DA42 gear warning "check gear...".
User avatar
Chris
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 935
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:34 am
First Name: Chris
Aircraft Type: DA42NG
Aircraft Registration: N449TS
Airports: KHIO
Has thanked: 1050 times
Been thanked: 480 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by Chris »

I think it comes on below about 30% at low altitudes. Seems like it's at a higher power level when up high, but I haven't tried it lately.
Chris
N449TS / DA42-NG / 42.AC049
KHIO
User avatar
MikeMeadows
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:44 am
First Name: Mike
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N486A
Airports: KTME KDWH KIWS TS07 KSGR
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 35 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by MikeMeadows »

Less than approx. 20% - see page 7-14 of AFM/POH

"Should one power lever be placed in a position below approx. 20% while the landing gear is retracted, a warning horn sounds to alert the pilot that the gear is retracted. Additionally, a CHECK GEAR caution is indicated on the PFD. The same warning appears if the flaps move into position LDG (fully extended) while the gear is retracted."

Mike Meadows
CFII MEI
Houston, TX
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1327 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by Boatguy »

Didn't see that. It's apparently the same as the 62. Thanks!
User avatar
photoSteveZ
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 321
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:10 pm
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N62DZ
Airports: KEIK Erie CO
Has thanked: 387 times
Been thanked: 226 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by photoSteveZ »

Chris wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 5:35 am I think it comes on below about 30% at low altitudes. Seems like it's at a higher power level when up high, but I haven't tried it lately.
At my high-altitude home airport, the gear warnings come on at 40% Load (this is a DA62). I don't recall if it's different at sea level, but I don't fly much over terrain with elevations below 5000'.
User avatar
NDCDA62
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 196
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 3:15 pm
First Name: Nigel
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: DINDC
Airports: EDRY
Has thanked: 83 times
Been thanked: 117 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by NDCDA62 »

Approximately at just below 20% the Check Gear audio warning is activated.
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1327 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by Boatguy »

What could explain the difference between 40% and 20%?

I know it's not based on AGL because the alarm can be triggered at 5,000' AGL.
User avatar
MikeMeadows
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:44 am
First Name: Mike
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N486A
Airports: KTME KDWH KIWS TS07 KSGR
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 35 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by MikeMeadows »

photoSteveZ wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:49 pm
Chris wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 5:35 am I think it comes on below about 30% at low altitudes. Seems like it's at a higher power level when up high, but I haven't tried it lately.
At my high-altitude home airport, the gear warnings come on at 40% Load (this is a DA62). I don't recall if it's different at sea level, but I don't fly much over terrain with elevations below 5000'.
The AFM/POH for the DA62 on page 7-13 says:

"Should one power lever be placed in a position below 25% while the landing gear is retracted, a warning horn sounds to alert the pilot that the gear is retracted. Additionally, a CHECK GEAR caution is indicated on the PFD. The same warning appears if the flaps move into LDG position (fully extended) while the gear is retracted."

Can't think of a reason why a turbocharged engine should not have the same % load/power at 5,000 ft elevation versus that at sea level?

Mike Meadows
CFII MEI
Houston, TX
User avatar
Chris
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 935
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:34 am
First Name: Chris
Aircraft Type: DA42NG
Aircraft Registration: N449TS
Airports: KHIO
Has thanked: 1050 times
Been thanked: 480 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by Chris »

I experimented with this a bit today during a four-hour flight from TX to IA. It definitely sounds the alarm at a higher percentage when at higher altidues. Here are the approximate power settings that sounded the gear alarm on my NG at different altitudes.

11,000' - 40%
9,000' - 35%
8,000' - 32%
6,000' - 24%

I was busy shooting an approach in IMC after that so I didn't try it any lower. I wonder if this is related to the "low power correction" that causes you to have 13% power at "idle" when landing at Leadville.

My best guess is the alarm is based on the position of the power lever, and the amount of power available at that position increases due to the aforementioned "low power correction" effect.
Chris
N449TS / DA42-NG / 42.AC049
KHIO
User avatar
Ed McDonald
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:08 am
First Name: Ed
Aircraft Type: DA62NG
Aircraft Registration: CFPWP
Airports: CFB6
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 125 times

Re: DA42 gear alarm

Post by Ed McDonald »

The gear warning horn is triggered by a micro switch in the throttle as shown in the attached diagram so it is in a fixed position however the load at that position appears to vary significantly with altitude.
Attachments
DA 42 62 Maintenance Course Slides Landing Gear.pdf
(126.62 KiB) Downloaded 77 times
Post Reply