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less than $10 each are the bargain of the century. You can’t afford not to check them!
It just so happens that the first article I wrote for this magazine in 2009 was on this topic of checking for play in your flaps as part of your preflight routine. Whenever I have the opportunity to walk around a King Air with an owner or pilot (such as at King Air Gatherings), I am forever checking flaps for play and more often than not, I find flaps that are too stiff!
The time it takes to check your flaps as I have described is a very small price to pay when compared to the alternative. If your flaps are bottoming out or those Teflon washers are missing or worn out, you are looking at thousands of dollars in parts and labor, plus downtime for your King Air. In this case, an ounce of prevention really is worth a ton of cure. So, give your flaps a little jiggle during your preflight routine and keep an eye on those washers.
Happy flying. KA
Note: Other flap-related articles can be found in May/June 2013 and October 2016 issues.
Dean Benedict is a certified A&P, AI
with 50 years experience in King Air maintenance. He was an inaugural inductee to the King Air Hall of Fame.
He owned and ran Honest Air Inc., a “Beechcraft maintenance boutique” with a strong following of King Airs, for 15 years. Currently, with BeechMedic LLC, Dean and his wife, Lisa, consult with owners, pilots and mechanics on King Air maintenance issues, troubleshooting and pre-buys. Dean performs expert witness work on request. He can be reached at 702-524- 4378 or via email at dr.dean@beechmedic. com.
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OCTOBER 2024
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 17