a little food for thought

[nondirectional]

so, you're in the runup area, checkin the flaps prior to takeoff, and you notice that on retraction, the left flap comes up all the way and the right flap stays full down.

now, in the stroke of dumb luck, you take-off.

you think the ailerons could counteract the asymmetrical lift asociated with the asymmetrical flap extension?

you're in a E33C Bonanza, in Prescott, Arizona.



just some food for thought..



(by the way, hello! i am new here ;D a senior @ ERAU-Prescott workin' on my CFI/I.)

 

[bigD]

Welcome to the board, nondirectional!

It'd be pretty easy to figure out if I actually knew the dimensions and locations on the wing of the ailerons and flaps for the E33, but I'd say that it wouldn't be a problem. The added arm that the aileron would have should be more than enough to counteract it - and you have two ailerons contributing to the roll of the plane, but only one flap.

But that's just a thought off the top of my head. I don't know for sure, and I certainly wouldn't launch in that situation to find out!

 

[2000flyer]

Welcome nondirectional!

You're taxing out and you notice that the ailerons don't travel in their full direction, do you still take off?

While it's true, at a partial flap setting you're ailerons will probably be able to correct your induced bank angle due to the flap position. However, say its the left flap. Now you fly for an hour and, using the same "dumb luck" your burn that hours fuel out of the right tank. Now you're using even more force to keep the wings level. At what point do you run out of aileron travel? During a wind gust on landing, how much aileron pressure do you release without risking a near aerobatic maneuver?

My point is, if it's broke, DON'T FLY IT! It's not like you have a guage thats inop, but you can continue safely. You're talking a flight control surface. I personally love life, wife and kids way too much to go blasting off in a situation like you've described.

2000Flyer

 

[bobbysamd]

Asymmetric flaps on takeoff?

Welcome, from a late '80s-early '90s former ERAU-Prescott flight line instructor!

This aerodynamic discussion, while interesting, begs the question about why one would take off in an unsafe condition.

Did some Riddle stage check pilot ask you this question? Many (immature and callow) Riddle stage check pilots ask inane and asinine questions, but this one is ridiculous. Does it really matter? Why would anyone take off with asymmetric flaps???

If a stage check pilot really asked you that question, you need to pay a visit to Sean Jeralds on campus.

Good luck with your CFI training, stage checks, and practicals.

 

[DIRT]

I was riding in the back of a C182 on about 1 mile final 40 degrees of flaps and the flap cable broke. The right flap retracted causing a split flap, the ailerons were able to overcome the roll tendancy caused by the asymetrical flap situation. We landed with no problem with one flap still retracted and one still 40 degrees.

 

[nondirectional]

funny you mention that...this was just another day at work in dispatch when one of our 'birds came back with one funky-lookin' wing. the crew was not "dumb-enough" to take-off, but it did raise a few questions around dispatch...