Page 14 - Volume 12 Number 4

A UV shield (de ector) found on King Airs with the “cat’s eye” re detection system. It prevents sunlight from hitting the forward optical re detector.
Model 200 Manual Mistake Corrected!
At last, the King Air 200 maintenance manual has a diagram showing correct placement of the split ring reinforcements. See Figure 401 (Revised) below right. You can see the exhaust stack (#4) with its ange. Left of that is another ange. Although not labeled, this is the engine exhaust port ange. The reinforcements (#2) go in between the engine ange and the re detector shield (#1). The bolts (#3) go in from the stack side. Stack ange, engine ange, split ring, UV shield. Hallelujah!
A Few Exceptions
Outside of the 300 series, I can’t think of a King Air that doesn’t have split rings. The earliest King Airs (A90s, B90s and a few early C90s) came from the factory with a short, lightweight exhaust stack and no split rings. But
Exhaust stack on left; engine exhaust port on right. Stack is loosely bolted to align holes. Top split ring is already installed; bottom split ring is held to indicate the position where it will be installed, ush against the engine port ange.
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
later, Beech Aircraft designed a replacement stack that was longer and heavier, and split rings were required.
Very recently, Pratt & Whitney has beefed up the exhaust port anges in a few cases, so some of the newest King Airs are exempt from split rings. The maintenance manual identi es by aircraft serial number which King Airs need them and which do not; most do.
There may be an after-market stack that does not need split rings, but I doubt it. The STC paperwork should make this clear. If ever there was a question whether or not to install them, I’d put them on.
I don’t see a downside to split rings and I’d rather be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting the exhaust ducts and anges on your engines. I’ve seen what happens when split ring stiffeners are installed incorrectly or are missing entirely. It’s a road you do not want to go down. KA
Dean Benedict is a certi ed A&P, AI with over 40
years’ experience in King Air maintenance. He’s the founder and former owner of Honest Air Inc., a “King Air maintenance boutique” (with some Dukes and Barons on the side). In his new venture, BeechMedic LLC, Dean consults with King Air owners and operators on all things King Air related: maintenance, troubleshooting, pre-buys, etc. He can be reached at dr.dean@beechmedic.com
or (702) 773-1800.
The King Air 200 maintenance manual has a corrected diagram, Figure 401 (Revised), showing the right placement of the split ring reinforcements.
APRIL 2018
1. R E OR SHIELD
2. REINFO ME (2)
3. BOLT, SHER AND N (12) 4. EX T STA
5. T SEAL PLATE
6. AIR INLET ANTI-I LIP
4
BB788 1327 8.POF