PSA: I used a zip tie to fix a broken cowl flap cable guide on a King Air last week and it actually held.

The plastic guide on the actuator arm was cracked, and the cable was starting to chafe, but we didn't have the right part in stock for a two-day job. I made a temporary loop with a heavy-duty zip tie to keep the cable in the right path, and it passed a full ops check with no binding. Has anyone else had to get creative with a simple fix that went against the book but got the plane flying?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_park922mo ago

A King Air flying on a zip tie is wild.

the_anthony2mo agoTop Commenter

I saw a Cessna 172 once with a zip tie holding the entire landing light assembly in place. That's the kind of field repair @shane_park92 is talking about, where you just have to make it work. Honestly, some of those quick fixes outlast the factory parts because they're done with pure survival logic. You get home safe and the real fix can wait for a hangar with proper tools. It's a weird mix of scary and deeply impressive.

shane_park922mo ago

Ever had a mechanic see that and just nod? Sometimes the field fix is the only thing that gets you home.