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RESPECTING THE PREFLIGHT
HOW PILOTS CAN IMPROVE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTIONS
by Brian Sagi
Earlier this year, I met with a student for an early morning training flight. As always, I conducted my own walk around the aircraft
even though the student had already preflighted prior to my arrival. While inspecting the elevator for “free and correct,” I noticed a distinct “clunk” with an accompanying restriction in movement. Control surface binding is one of the most serious in-flight emergencies and can obviously be fatal.
Sensing a teachable moment, I said nothing and asked my student to show me how he checked the elevator. Observing him, I saw that he did not exercise the elevator throughout its full range of motion, instead checking the freedom of movement in a small range. When I showed him the issue I discovered, he was shocked. He told me that none of his prior instructors ever showed him how to properly inspect control surfaces for freedom of operation.
I have observed similar astonishment from pilots who, when ready to launch after conducting their own preflight, were pointed out major airworthiness items such as broken propeller spinner back plates, flat landing gear struts and landing gear pins that were left in place.
July 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 9