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  #1  
Old 5th August 2009, 05:56 PM
Daniel G Daniel G is offline
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Default Dash 8 Condition Levers

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone knows what the condition levers do?

Any help would be much appreciated.
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  #2  
Old 5th August 2009, 07:06 PM
Hugh Jarse Hugh Jarse is offline
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Daniel, the condition levers serve a couple of purposes. Similar to a piston CSU they control the propeller RPM during certain operating modes. They also are used to select Start/Feather below the normal (MIN) flight detent, and start/stop the flow of fuel to the engines during start up/shut down.

That's on the 1/2/300 series. I'm not sure of the 400 with FADEC.
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  #3  
Old 5th August 2009, 07:12 PM
Mick F Mick F is offline
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Daniel, if you of all people (Dash 8 endorsed) don't know what the condition levers do, then I am worried, .

Mick
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  #4  
Old 5th August 2009, 11:07 PM
Adam P. Adam P. is offline
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I guess the Captain does that bit...
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  #5  
Old 6th August 2009, 06:35 AM
Hugh Jarse Hugh Jarse is offline
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During normal engine shut down the FO will select START/FEATHER, then FUEL OFF at the direction of the Capt.

During engine start the Capt. controls the condition levers.

During normal ops the PNF controls the condition levers (sometimes under the direction of the PF).

During abnormal ops the control of condition levers varies between the 2 pilots, depending upon the nature of the situation and whether the aircraft is on the ground or not.
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  #6  
Old 6th August 2009, 09:48 AM
Max C Max C is offline
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The Condition Levers in the Q400 have the essentially the same positions as the 1/2/300's with a few differences.

Max will govern the prop rpm at 1020rpm
There is a detent at 900rpm.
And Min will govern at 850rpm.

The whole system is managed via FADEC and one of the only reasons there are condition levers at all is so the Q400 can be a classed under the same endorsement as the 1/2/300's.

Attached is a pic of the levers. Hope it works.
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  #7  
Old 6th August 2009, 03:38 PM
Mick F Mick F is offline
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Very similar to the PC-12. The PC-12 has Idle Cut Off/Feather, Ground Idle and Flight Idle.

The following is a brief description of the PC-12 system.

During start, Ground Idle is selected at 14%Ng which also brings the propellor out of feather automatically and depending on the temperature, etc., the propellor operates around the 1,000Rpm mark and the engine around 62-64%Ng.

Just prior to take off, Flight Idle is selected, the prop operates at around 1,300Rpm and the engine around 80%Ng. The condition lever then remains at flight idle until after touch down. There's a few other squat switches etc. that are activated/deactivated when Flight Idle is selected, in particular the Air/Ground switches which changes the parameters the computers are designed to detect before displaying warnings to you, and also to ensure the pressurisation works. These are linked in with the Air/Ground proximity sensors which are on the landing gear.

On shut down, Idle Cut Off/Feather is selected. This cuts the fuel supply to the engine, as well as activating a solenoid to dump the oil from the propellor hub and feather the propellor.

Not a Dash 8, but hope it was of some interest to someone, .

Mick
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  #8  
Old 6th August 2009, 03:57 PM
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Martin Buzzell Martin Buzzell is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick F View Post

Not a Dash 8, but hope it was of some interest to someone, .

Mick

Anything to do with the "way things work" on any aircraft is an interest to me, thanks.
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  #9  
Old 6th August 2009, 05:25 PM
Brenden S Brenden S is offline
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I am sure the Daniel G that we know would have been taught that on the pilot endorsement course, and also he would have given me a call considering I work on one now....
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  #10  
Old 6th August 2009, 07:50 PM
Nigel C Nigel C is offline
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Is it the same for the condition levers in the Saab?
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