Page 15 - Volume 11 Number 8

equipment, knowledge and experience. A good AC tech will have all three, plus he or she will know where to source quality Freon.
I’m in a pickle here, because there are good guys out there that know what they’re doing and they go by the book. Maybe they’ve faced an AC system with Black Death and maybe not. But, I don’t want to give the impression that I’ve prevented Black Death because I went beyond the book requirements. That could be a factor but I don’t know it for a fact. Extended vacuum time has worked for me and I don’t see a downside to it.
The bottom line is that an AC system contaminated with moisture won’t function properly and Black Death could eventually be a result. A humid climate, bad Freon, a leaky system, a system left open to the air – all of these factors could contribute to the rise of Black Death in a King Air AC system. The goal? Get and keep the moisture out and keep your cool!
Dean Benedict is a certified 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.
AUGUST 2017
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 13