Page 24 - Volume 14 Number 10

MAINTENANCE TIP
Preflight Procedures from a Maintenance Perspective
For many years I maintained a B200 owned by a family business that had used the same pilot for years. He had flown for the airlines and was a decent guy, but every time he picked up the King Air after maintenance, he pulled the door shut, started the engines and took off without even checking the oil!
That boggled my mind. I’ve seen a lot of preflight routines, but this was no preflight at all. Some of my guys thought I should take it as a compliment because the pilot had so much faith in the work we were putting out, but I’d rather have my work questioned and verified by a thorough preflight inspection. Needless to say, when this King Air went out the door, everyone in the shop gave it an extra walkaround before “Speedy Gonzalez” came to pick it up.
If Possible, Make a Mid- maintenance Visit
Most shops don’t allow customers in the hangar because of insurance reasons, but if you have never seen your King Air in the middle of a Phase inspection, you need to. Have the shop foreman give you a tour, just don’t be surprised by what you see, even if it looks like total mayhem. Panels are open everywhere, the engine cowls are off and wing lockers, if you have them, are removed. Much of the interior is sitting on the hangar floor and the floorboards are pulled up to expose
22 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
the guts (electrical, plumbing and ducting). A control surface may be off – a flap, most likely, so the Teflon washers can be accessed for replacement.
Airplanes are 15 pounds of stuff crammed into an oddly-shaped five-pound bag and getting to it is time-consuming and nonergonomic. The skinniest mechanic gets stuffed into the hellhole where they might have to remove ducting and avionics boxes just to carry out the 12-month check on your ELT. He or she then moves on to a dozen other tasks to be performed in there.
Obviously, you are not going to re- inspect the airplane, but think about
what you’ve observed as you do your post-maintenance preflight. You’re not doubting your shop; rather, you’re confirming their execution of an extremely complex job. And if you find something amiss, good shops will rush to remedy the situation. That missed item will become a learning session for all involved, not to be repeated.
Cockpit Out of Order
After maintenance, it is vital that you allow ample time to restore your “switchology” to your liking. Check everything; assume nothing. You have no idea how many mechanics and avionics guys have been in and
by Dean Benedict
OCTOBER 2020