Clogged Drains

[pelmet]

I have seen the clogged drain issue before on the tail of a C337 where dirt had accumulated in it(probably from the tail being pushed down to raise the nose wheel for turning on the spot and the tail scraping into the dirt). Rainwater subsequently accumulated in the fairing. I noticed a continuous drip and investigated further, eventually using a paperclip to clear out the drain with lots of water then pouring out.


From TSB via Google Translate....

C-FXDE, a Beechcraft A100 operated by Exact Air inc. under the call sign ET828, was on a flight
under instrument flight rules from Havre-St-Pierre Airport, QC (CYGV) to
destination of Chicoutimi/St-Honoré, QC (CYRC) with 2 pilots on board. While the device is
level at flight level 200, the master warning light began to flash,
but no abnormality was seen. Subsequently, the autopilot made altitude corrections
untimely. The autopilot was disconnected and the crew realized that the elevator
was locked, but the altitude could be controlled with the elevator trim. A
emergency has been declared. During the descent, the elevator unlocked and the
aircraft control returned to normal. The aircraft landed at CYRC without incident and there is no
had no injuries or damage. An inspection revealed that a drain in the tail was clogged with
insects, which caused an accumulation of water in the tail, which could freeze and prevent the
movement of a pulley on the elevator cable.

[Pacqing]

There is a item on the inspection sheets to check for this. If it was plugged enough to freeze a pulley then I'd say this item was pencil whipped.

[pelmet]

There is a item on the inspection sheets to check for this. If it was plugged enough to freeze a pulley then I'd say this item was pencil whipped.

From a pilot point of view, I think that drains are not inspected very closely. Many times they are inconveniently located. Interesting thing to be aware of.

[Pacqing]

Is it on your pre flight check sheet? Inconvenient? They're on the belly, kinda hard for a pilot doing a pre flight on a Westwind. Like I said on the maintenance inspection sheets.

[pelmet]

From a pilot point of view, I think that drains are not inspected very closely. Many times they are inconveniently located. Interesting thing to be aware of.

[‘Bob’]

Roger. Adding it to the “killer items” checklist.

[pelmet]

Roger. Adding it to the “killer items” checklist.

Comparing many the posts on the current active threads in this forum(and in general) to Pprune is like comparing kindergarten to university.

Addition several days later: The many kindergarten posts were subsequently removed by the moderator from the PA32 thread.