[Paul462]

If memory serves, there was quite a comprehensive broken flap cable thread on this message board 6 or 7 years ago after the Australian failure. I believe that one occured on short final, a few hundred feet up, and the pilot reported he applied full power and retracted the asymetrically extended flap. It goes without saying he was probably applying full ailerons and coordinated rudder against the roll... :-)

Unfortunately, it is not possible to visually or "rag" inspect the flap cables in place, or even removed from the aircraft, because the heart strand or an internal strand may be failing, and that would not be visible externally, even with the cable removed. Also, the most common failure point is flush against a quadrant pulley, not easily inspectable.

There are FBOs who are willing to take your money for a "visual" inspection - Turbo Air in Boise Idaho did from me back in 2003 when I bought my first 1968 T337C, as part of a $7,000 annual! They called it a "visual" and "rag" inspection - you drag a rag along the cable and see if it snags anywhere, and "visually" inspect where you can't reach with the rag. This inspection was at least partly ineffectual, because it only inspected external strands, not (possibly) failing internal strands nor the heart strand.

I took a different approach with my second T337C, acquired 2 years ago with just under 3,000 hrs. TTAF: we removed the 4 flap cables which hold down the flaps and replaced them. It wasn't that awful bad a job (10 - 12 hours?), and the IA made up new cables on the spot with new terminals and cable, using a huge swedger he dragged over. I understand there's an operation in New Zealand which does same every 500-1,000 hours or so, as preventive maintenance.