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2 Answers

Stuck flaps on takeoff

Asked by: 2033 views Aircraft Systems, FAA Regulations, General Aviation

Am I legally allowed to fly with my flaps stuck at 10 degrees?

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2 Answers



  1. KDS on Apr 08, 2019

    I’m sure there are those who will disagree, but the answer is no. An airplane with its flaps stuck in any position does not meet the original type certificate of the aircraft.

    A pilot faced with such a situation could probably get a Special Flight Permit (Ferry Permit) and that would be the way to proceed.

    http://www.faa-aircraft-certification.com/special-flight-permit.html

    Setting the legalities aside, think about it like this. If 10 degrees is safe, what about 15. What about 25. Where is the point where okay becomes not okay and who is to say what is safe and what isn’t. A very wise mentor once told me when considering an action to think about how it is going to sound while standing in front of a judge. What could go wrong? Lots of things. The engine quits and you can’t quite make a field because the airplane is dragging flaps. Vice versa, the engine quits and you can’t make that steep approach into a short field because you can’t get full flaps. Or maybe you forget and fly above Vfe or the airplane is structurally capable of sustaining more turbulence with the flaps up than down and you unknowingly do some damage to the airplane.

    Special flight permits are relatively easy to obtain and that is definitely the way to go. Then, I’ll just add a word of caution. Once you get the permit, read it. It will say you must do something and must not do something else and you would be amazed how often a pilot receives a special flight permit and then departs not in compliance with the permit.

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  2. Jaziri Elyes on Apr 11, 2019

    Hello,
    First of all, I totally agree with KDS. And I just wanted to add a point, flying in icing conditions with flaps extended is not safe, or maybe prohibited by your AFM.

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