For ships with *auto hookups* positive control checks are a waste of
time, and in fact do more harm then good. I have never heard of a
single case where a positive control check would have preveneted an
accident. I have seen ailerons fouled by clueless helpers who don't
know where the bloody bell crank is and what flat palm means.

On Jun 3, 9:13*pm, ContestID67 wrote:
A recent accident (disconnected aileron) got me thinking about
positive control checks. *I searched the RAS archives and didn't find
any details on how people do this.

I was trained by my CFIG, like most of you I hope, to do a positive
control check every day. *Actually it was more like it was drilled
into me. *This was even done on club ships that remain assembled for
the season.

As a beginning pilot I would sit in the cockpit and move the controls
as someone more experienced put their hands on the flight surfaces.
Later I found that anyone can handle the controls, it's the hands on
the surfaces that was much more telling if things were connected
properly or not. *My ship does not have automatic hookups so this is
especially important to me.

I got into the habit of having my assistant move the control one way,
then the other, then back again with full deflection. *All the while I
was putting pressure on the surface and, at the same time, wiggling
the surface to simulate take off vibration. *So far, no incidents,
knock on wood.

So, the question is, how do *YOU* do your positive control check?

John "67" DeRosa