Looking for Flap Cables

[WebMaster]

I'm pretty certain there is a Cessna SB on these. The sharp bend around a smallish pulley is the culprit. The procedure for checking them is simple.

Take a rag, and wipe the cable. If it snags anywhere, you have a broken strand. If you have a broken strand on the outside, you undoubtedly have many on the inside. Waste no time, replace the cables. Both of them.

As others have pointed out, this should be part of the annual inspection that your IA performs.

The only way you can check these cables is to remove them at the bell crank. A flashlight and mirror doesn't usually show the frayed cable. I've attached a picture of where they fray. Hope this helps.

[Paul462]

African 337,

Thanks! We have similar aircraft - we're flying a T337C. You are correct in that the only way to inspect the cables is to remove them. There are two per side which hold the flaps DOWN - these, of course, are the critical ones. There is also one cable per side to hold the flaps UP - these are much less of an airworthiness concern where a cable breaks in flight.

Once the four important DOWN cables have been removed for inspection, one might as well replace them. The cable and end connectors can be easily had, and then the only thing one needs is an A&P with a big swedger, and voila! four new fabricated cables for not much money.

I've heard of one operator of several 337s in Australia who does this routinely every year with his fleet of 337s.

[edasmus]

I agree as well. Removal is the only way to inspect these cables. A visual inspection tells only a small portion of the story. It is better than nothing but probably not adequate.

Ed