Dash 8 Condition Levers

[Daniel G]

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone knows what the condition levers do?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Hugh Jarse]

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.

[Mick F]

Daniel, if you of all people (Dash 8 endorsed) don't know what the condition levers do, then I am worried, :).

Mick

[Adam P.]

I guess the Captain does that bit... :D

[Hugh Jarse]

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.

[Max C]

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.

[Mick F]

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

[Martin Buzzell]

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.

[Brenden S]

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....

[Nigel C]

Is it the same for the condition levers in the Saab?

[Nathan Long]

Something like this Nigel?

http://www.thesaabsite.com/shop/catimages/top/Saab-900-94-98-Gear-Lever-Selector.jpg

[Stephen Brown]

Put it in 'R' for Race!!!

[Darryl Schlodder]

D for Daytime, N for Nighttime:D:D:D:D

[Chris B.]

Is it the same for the condition levers in the Saab?

Almost the same as the Dash 8 and PC12. Fuel is introduced at 17%NG (Gas generator speed). Once both are started the props are still feathered. The Captain will bring the Condition Levers out of feather and into the Min - Max range. The FO will then make sure bottom governing is activated at 830RPM and maintains 1040RPM (indicated by a spike in NG and Fuel Flow).

Once inflight the PNF sets climb power at 1230RPM (pretty much at the min detent) with max being at 1396RPM.

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9377/controlpedestalfulliniti.jpg