Page 4 - April 25

MAINTENANCE TIP
King Air
Inspection
Programs
A phase is not
an annual
by Dean Benedict
there was a King Air in the shop with engine rigging issues, and everyone benefited from the hands-on
Last week I was at a shop doing a clinic on engine rigging with the maintenance technicians. Conveniently,
experience. We also looked at the other King Airs in the shop. We discussed squawks that had been found
and how best to troubleshoot and remedy them.
One King Air had a highly unusual maintenance
background – somewhere between intermittent and non-
existent. The owner acquired it eight or nine years ago.
It was based in the western U.S. and made frequent trips
to Mexico. Reportedly, at one point it flew for three years
with zero maintenance! I’ve seen my share of airplanes
that were parked for an extended period during which
maintenance was deferred but to fly regularly for three
years with no maintenance at all is just plain crazy.
They were finally getting all the maintenance caught
up, so this King Air was on its third visit to that shop.
I’m told the owner bought it from a buddy who told him
“everything worked” on the airplane, and that was it.
Clearly there was no pre-buy inspection. At the very
least, I would have expected the new owner to think his
newly acquired aircraft needed an annual inspection.
King Airs don’t get “annual inspections”
I’ve worked with aircraft owners acquiring their first
King Air for decades. Many are transitioning from the
piston to the turbine world; therefore, they are firmly
dialed in on the FAA-required annual inspection. And
because some maintenance items on a King Air come
due every 12 months, new King Air owners keep calling
maintenance requirements “an annual.”
It’s just a nomenclature issue, but the difference is
important. Normally I don’t kick up a fuss about the
proper term for this or that, but when it comes to “annual”
versus “phase” it is a sticking point for me.
An annual inspection, as specified in FAR Part 43, is
performed by a licensed aircraft mechanic, but it must
be signed off by an authorized inspector (an A&P who
also holds an inspection authorization certificate). IA
certs must be renewed regularly.
The four phases
Phase inspections on a King Air are part of a factory-
recommended program per 91.409(f)(3). An IA certificate
is not required for the logbook sign-off. There are four
phase inspection checklists, and all four must be
2 •
­ KING AIR MAGAZINE APRIL 2025