What Went Wrong? Strange Birds Beware the Vortex FUEL TANK CONFUSION p. 74 50 IMPROBABLE DESIGNS P. 27 ROTOR TECHNIQUE REVEALED P. 78 TURBINE EDITION The Voice of General Aviation aopa.org/pilot | February 2020 | $10.95 February 2020 February Pilatus PC–12 NGX | Phenom Icing Accident |World War II Nose Art | What Went Wrong? Wrong? II Nose Art | What Went War Accident |World NGX | Phenom Icing Pilatus PC–12 Icy Approach A PHENOM STALLS AT THE THRESHOLD p. T-11 PILATUS PC–12 NGX Farm to Fuel CAN JET BIOFUELS First to TAKE OFF? p. T-7 FADEC Turboprop Automation, Startup to Shutdown p. T-14 aopa.org TURBINE PILOT T-2 FROM THE EDITOR T-4 FINANCE T-7 JET BIOFUELS T-11 ACCIDENT T-14 PC–12 NGX A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THE TURBINE OWNER-PILOT First-class step up Sure, PC–12s are known for their utilitarian aspects, but Where: Stans, Switzerland the new PC–12 NGX brings a heavier emphasis on creature Photography: Courtesy of Pilatus Business Aircraft comforts. The seats, lighting, and environmental systems have all been given makeovers based on customer input. aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | T-1 THE BEST TIME TO FLY THE BEST IS NOW Introducing the brand-new PC-12 NGX, the most advanced single-engine turboprop ever. Featuring general aviation’s first Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System, a digital autothrottle, enhanced avionics with smart touch screen controller, a completely redesigned cabin with larger windows and new BMW Designworks interior. And all that at reduced operating costs and more speed. With the PC-12 NGX, Pilatus just made the best even better. Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd • USA • +1 303 465 9099 • www.pilatus-aircraft.com | PILATUS PC–12 NGX | DIGITAL PIONEER Optimizing an enduring favorite TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER, ALL PILATUS PC–12S MAY LOOK ALIKE. True, their basic appear- ance hasn’t changed a great deal since the original PC–12 made its 1994 debut, but deep down the airplane has gone through a series of gross weight increases and other significant improvements. In 2008, the PC–12 NG brought Honeywell’s Apex glass cockpit to the air- plane, among other performance and system upgrades. The Apex avionics suite replaced the original PC–12’s old-school Bendix/King panel, with its round gauges and KLN90B GPS navigator. But the biggest news came in 2019 with the introduction of the latest model: the PC–12 NGX. BY THOMAS A. HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PILATUS BUSINESS AIRCRAFT LTD. T-14 | AOPA PILOT February 2020 PIONEER aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | T-15 THE NEW PC-12 NGX retains Pilatus’ TURBOPROP REVOLUTION addition to push-button start, this means signature large aft cabin door In a recent video (aopa.org/turbine/engine- that a digital electronic engine control (above) but there are many new enhancements as well—like the start), I explained the basic steps in starting (EEC) unit applies its logic to control and redesigned leather seats (above a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine— monitor the -67XP. About to have a hot right) with optional footrests, new similar to the ones in PC–12s and PC–12 start? The FADEC will automatically shut sidewall ledges with oxygen mask stowage compartments, down- NGs. It featured the sequence familiar to the engine down. And for all the other wash lighting, and cabin windows many PT6 drivers: checking the battery for steps in a start sequence, the FADEC han- 10 percent larger than previous adequate power, spooling up to 13 percent dles them as well. There are still other models. All cabin seats are fitted with quick-release hardware, Ng, moving the condition lever to low idle, protections—against overtorques, surges, where before only the last two waiting for the lightoff, switching on the and flameouts, to name a few. If it’s above seats had this feature. generator at 50 percent Ng, and watching 26 degrees Celsius during shutdown, the out for an ITT rise that signals a hot start. engine will motor itself for a few seconds Well, the PC–12 NGX does away with all to help it cool down. that by automating the start with the sin- But wait, as the late-night TV ads say, gle flip of a switch. there’s more. The NGX’s PT6E-67XP Yes, for those pining away for a Pratt (the “E” is for electronic) also comes with & Whitney PT6 with a single-lever power autothrottle. Press the AT button and set control and full-authority digital engine a desired airspeed on the glareshield- controls (FADEC), the NGX has answered mounted flight guidance panel, and the their prayers. The airplane’s PT6E-67XP is autothrottle responds with the power the launch platform for Pratt & Whitney’s required, whether in climb, cruise, or first, and long-awaited, foray into the descent. Meanwhile, the power control world of turboprop engine automation. In lever (PCL) moves on its own as power T-16 | AOPA PILOT February 2020 SPEC SHEET Pilatus PC–12 NGX BASE PRICE: $4.39 MILLION TYPICAL EXECUTIVE CONFIGURATION PRICE: $5.37 MILLION SPECIFICATIONS Max operating altitude | 30,000 ft Powerplant | Pratt & Whitney PT6E-67XP, 1,200 shp Landing distance over 50-ft obstacle | 2,170 ft Propeller | Hartzell 105-in dia, 5-blade composite, feathering and reversible LIMITING AND RECOMMENDED AIRSPEEDS V (rotation) | Length | 47 ft 3 in R 82 KIAS V (best angle of climb) | Height | 14 ft X 120 KIAS V (best rate of climb) | Wingspan | 53 ft 6 in Y 130 KIAS V (design maneuvering) | Wing loading | 37.6 lb/sq ft A 166 KIAS V (max flap extended, 15 degrees) | Seats | 1 + 8-10 FE 165 KIAS Cabin length | 16 ft 11 in 30 degrees | 130 KIAS Cabin width | 5 ft 40 degrees | 130 KIAS V (max gear extended) | Cabin height | 4 ft 10 in LE 240 KIAS V (max gear operating) | Cabin volume | 330 cu ft LO 180 KIAS V (reference speed, final approach) | Basic empty weight | 6,173 lb REF 82 KIAS V (max operating speed below 16,300 ft) | Max ramp weight | 10,495 lb MO 240 KIAS M (max Mach number, above 16,300 ft) | Max takeoff weight | 10,450 lb MO M 0.49 V (stall, in landing configuration) | Max zero fuel weight | 9,039 lb SO 67 KIAS Max useful load | 4,277 lb Max landing weight | 9,921 lb FOR MORE INFORMATION contact pilatus-aircraft. Fuel capacity | 406.8 gal (402 gal usable) com/en/fly/pc-12 Max cargo weight, baggage area | 400 lb, 40 cu ft AOPA Finance estimates a monthly payment of Cabin | 3,300 lb, 330 cu ft $23,100 with 15 percent down, a 4.2-percent rate, a five-year term, and 20-year amortization. PERFORMANCE Takeoff distance over 50-ft obstacle | 2,485 ft All specifications are based on manufacturer’s calcu- Rate of climb, sea level | 1,920 fpm lations. All performance figures are based on standard Max cruise speed | 290 KTAS day, standard atmosphere, maximum weight conditions Max range, 4 pax | 1,803 nm unless otherwise noted. requirements rise or fall—as if a ghostly the electronic propeller governor’s normal, smaller-diameter, insulated fuel lines to a hand were in charge. Looking for a manual 1,700 propeller rpm and a lower, 1,550-rpm fuel filter attached to an engine-mounted override (MOR) or condition lever? Don’t mode for a quieter cabin. Except for take- fuel control unit. Before reaching that fuel bother. The dual-channel FADEC handles off—when the FADEC will automatically filter, fuel is warmed by an oil-to-fuel heat those functions as well. command 1,700 rpm—you can use low-speed exchanger. A fuel temperature gauge on the Digital engine control offers other ben- mode at any time. In cruise, Pilatus says that cockpit multifunction display indicates fuel efits in the PC–12 NGX. The PCL is linear the penalty is a paltry one to two knots. temperature as it enters the filter. in its power application, free of any of the The new engine also has the latest sin- flat spots or lags of the sort that can affect gle-crystal compressor blade metallurgy and ACE AVIONICS fuel control units managed by traditional, improved cooling for the power turbine sec- The PC–12 NGX retains the PC–12 NG’s manually controlled pushrod linkages. And tion. Together with the other enhancements, Honeywell Epic-based glass cockpit plat- although the NGX’s engine has the same this gives the PT6E-67XP a 5,000-hour time form, but in view of some added elements 1,200-shaft-horsepower maximum power between overhauls (it was 3,500 hours in ear- Pilatus calls the NGX’s panel the Advance output as previous PC–12s, its digital torque lier PC–12s), and maintenance intervals every Cockpit Environment (ACE)—which is also limiting function is much more precise, 600 hours—twice that of previous PC–12s. the name Pilatus gave to the avionics suite in which Pilatus says permits up to 10 percent its jet, the PC–24. more thrust in climb and cruise. This gives WARMER FUEL The ACE’s four huge display screens sure the airplane a published maximum cruise Changes to the fuel system yield another look like those of the EASy cockpits in newer speed of 290 knots—five knots faster than advantage: Prist, an anti-icing fuel addi- Falcon jets, especially the primary flight dis- earlier PC–12 models. tive, is not required. New, higher-pressure plays that show flight information, engine Another innovation is a low, 1,550-rpm jet pumps and boost pumps in the wing data, and nav/com frequencies on their split propeller setting.