Pilot error, controller malfunction, or glitch?

[bok269]

Last night Im flying west over the Appaclachian mountains heading to a short little airstrip (VA43).  I was in the default C172.  I'm flying kind of low, so I increase the throttle and pull up.  Nothing happens.  I pull my joystick all the way back.  Nothing happens.  I try banking away.  Nothing happens.  Only thing I have is the rudder.  Needless to say, I end up on the mountain.  I was tired at the time, but I think I was still capable of making a plane climb.  The flaps were up.  I had the weather ser to fair weather because I am still learning.  So the possibility of weather causing it is unlikely.  SInce I am relatively inexperienced, Pilot error is possible, but not likely in this case.  Im using the logitech Extrme 3D pro that has given me problems in the past.  COuld that be it?  Would FSX program in a failure like that?  Could it be a glitch?

While on the subject, A couple of times over PA (in fair weather and trimmed) the plane starts rocking violently about all three axes.  Is it a glitch?  Is it my fault?  Controller malfunction?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[TSC.]

Sounds like you may have switched on the auto pilot without realising it.

Cheers,

TSC.

[bok269]

Oh, and you mean since it was programmed to 0 feet, the plane started to dive?  DOesn't it release with extreme yoke movement?  Also, I still had the rudder.  Wouldnt that not be so with autopilot?

THanks.

[TSC.]

The autopilot over-rides the yoke movements, but not the rudder - this is why you couldn't climb or bank, but you could use the rudder, however, as soon as you started using the rudder, the autopilot would've tried to compensate with the ailerons. If you increased the power to try & climb, then the autopilot would've just trimmed the plane for level flight, so no climbing either.

Easiest way to switch the AP off in FS is to hit 'Z' & listen for the warning buzzer, indicating that the AP is off. (Although in big jets you will have to switch off the autothrottle aswell).

Cheers,

TSC.

[bok269]

So even extreme control movements wont snap you out of autopilot?

[loomex]

So even extreme control movements wont snap you out of autopilot?

Nope.

While on the subject, A couple of times over PA (in fair weather and trimmed) the plane starts rocking violently about all three axes.  Is it a glitch?  Is it my fault?  Controller malfunction?

It looks like you hit some nasty turbulance.

[bok269]

As I said, I had said it to clear weather.  Will you still encounter turbulence?

[Craig.]

turbulence is not reliant on bad weather.  I'm sure someone can explain the in's and outs.

[reider]

Turbulance as in `an air pocket`, you get that in any weather.  Light planes suffer the worst, been up in one in real life a few times, you feel it more in these than airliners.  Corrects itself fairly quickly, usually.

Reider

[Ashton Lawson]

Yup.

[bok269]

Great.  Thanks for the help.  When I encountered turbulence I put the throttle to full and put the plane in a climb.  Should I just stick it out instead?

[reider]

Ride it out in the short term.  If its prolongued the applay for permission to raise your altitude if flying IFR, on VFR just raise the aircraft higher and see if you can get above it-sometimes below helps too.  It usually doesn`t last long though......

Reider