Page 18 - Volume 14 Number 2

Maintenance Revisions and Updates
In the last few years there have been changes in the maintenance requirements for King Airs. We’ve seen some new inspections added, such as the 3-year/3,000-hour/ 3000-cycle flap inspection and the 2,500-cycle interior inspection, which I’ve touched on in previous articles. Very recently the mandatory
5-year replacement of flammable fluid carrying hoses was removed (for 200s, 300s and 350s – the 90 manual hasn’t been updated yet). This surprised me. Engine hoses are essentially a rubber product and rubber doesn’t last forever. Looking back, I remember learning that Beech called out a very specific type of hose, made by Stratoflex, to be used on King Airs for flammable fluids. When I had my shop, I made
certain my hose fabricator only used the Beech-specified Stratoflex material in making new hoses. They weren’t cheap by any means. Hose shops sent their salespeople my way, and some could do the job for half the price, but the garden-variety black rubber hoses they used did not sit right with me. I was not willing to compromise in this area, so I tried to save my customers’ money in other ways. Needless to say, I didn’t see this one coming ... or should I say going?
Looking forward, I’m anxious to see what other changes are in store for the King Air maintenance schedule. Additionally, I extend wishes of health and prosperity for the new year and the new decade to all.
Safe flying in your Beechcraft King Air! KA
Correction/Clarification: In the Maintenance Tip article titled “Winter Readiness” featured in the December 2019 issue of King Air in the paragraph discussing FCU heat on page 18: Model 300s do not have FCU heat; in 200s the FCU heat comes on when the condition levers are moved forward: later 90s have the same condition lever setup as 200s, whereas earlier model 90s have a cockpit switch for each engine.
Our apologies for the lack of clarity.
Dean Benedict Dean Benedict is a certified A&P, AI with 45 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). Now, with 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.
16 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2020