On Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:15:37 GMT, "BDS" wrote:

I have a KFC-200 autopilot in the aircraft I fly and I have always been able
to fly a better approach by hand than the autopilot does. Just the other
day while out doing practice approaches to a runway with a 12 kt crosswind
on the surface and a pretty good wind gradient and turbulence from the FAF
down to DH I decided to try a coupled approach to see how it would go - the
autopilot did a lousy job compared to what could be done manually.

This is also true of the flight director. In other words, I can shoot a
more precise approach using the instruments as opposed to following the
flight director.

How does this compare with others' experiences using the autopilot or FD to
perform a precision approach?

My S-Tec 55X's and KAP140s fly dead-on when properly set up. I'd have
an avionics shop check the rigging on your control lines for proper
tension, and also the tension on the servo clutches and startup
voltages. I had a problem with pitch porpoise in a 55X which turned
out to be rigging being about 60% of rated tension, cleared right up
after they adjusted the cable tensions and checked the clutch torque.