Page 14 - Volume 15 Number 2

MAINTENANCE TIP
Corrosion
It’s a tribute to the King Air brand that so many are still flying today after 30 or even 40 years since manufactured; but the longer an airplane is “alive and kicking” the greater the opportunity for development of corrosion. When assessing the condition of any King Air, I’ve got the possibility of corrosion uppermost in my mind. In fact, I’m packing my bags right now to visit a King Air in Florida with known corrosion issues.
Atmospheric conditions have a corrosive effect on all metals. Aluminum, the primary material long used in aircraft construction due to its light weight, is susceptible to corrosion from air pollutants and is particularly sensitive to the salt-laden environments found in coastal communities. But it is not alone. The components in your engines are made of much tougher material since they are subjected to extremes of heat, fuel and exhaust. These sophisticated alloys are equally at risk for corrosion. Even fiberglass and composites
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
by Dean Benedict
are vulnerable to the corrosive effect of sunlight and air pollutants.
True story: An owner/operator parked his King Air on the ramp of his home airport, located less than 10 miles from the ocean. He always tailed it into the wind. He hoped this would keep the onshore breezes away from his engine intakes and minimize the adverse effects of the ocean air. However, when it came time for borescope inspections, his theory, and his bank account, were blown to bits. Corrosion was severe and
FEBRUARY 2021