Page 18 - Volume 15 Number 2

An aileron from a King Air that has so much corrosion it’s beyond repair. A King Air is mostly made up of aluminum which is susceptible to corrosion from air pollutants, and in particular salt-laden environments found in coastal areas.
A King Air doesn’t have to hang out on the beach to suffer the effects of a salt-laden environment. It might be many miles inland but still subject to salty air, heat
and humidity, depending on the prevailing winds or local weather patterns. A King Air that lives in the desert but regularly flies to the beach is likewise vulnerable.
Corrosion concerns everyone. There are no exemptions.
Frankly, if you operate regularly in a challenging environment, get with your shop and have them print out the pertinent sections of the maintenance manual that address the conditions in which you operate. Review that information and do everything you can, in between scheduled maintenance appointments, to augment the preventative measures regularly taken by your shop.
A well-maintained King Air is a beauty to behold and to fly. KA
Dean Benedict is a certified A&P, AI with over 45 years of maintaining King Airs. He’s the founder and former owner of Honest Air Inc., a maintenance shop that specialized in Beech aircraft with an emphasis on King Airs. In his new venture, BeechMedic LLC, Dean consults with King Air owners and operators on maintenance management & supervision, troubleshooting, pre-buys, etc. He can be reached at dr.dean@beechmedic.com or (702) 773-1800.
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16 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2021