“Auto Opening” cowl flaps

[Glen Davis]

My friend had a 1980 K.  His cowl flap open “automatically” on touchdown.  Anyone experience this? 

[PeteMc]

EDITED:   Okay, was thinking of a different message I had just read when I then read this one...   So I'm changing my comment.

Odds are the spring is broken or weak.  So it just barely keeps the cowl flaps closed in flight and the landing "bump" is enough to pop them open. 

 

ORIGINAL (oops): 

Must be a mod he had installed.  I've got a 1980 K and it is a two step lever you pull.  Options are (approx.) half or full open. 

With the button push does he have infinite open positions or do the cowl flaps go to preset open positions like mine do? 

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by PeteMc

[LANCECASPER]

2 hours ago, Glen Davis said:

My friend had a 1980 K.  His cowl flap open “automatically” on touchdown.  Anyone experience this? 

probably just out of adjustment or consistent hard landings. . lol

[Jetpilot86]

My electric seems to have a few positions. Close, to close and keep it closed. Middle, if closed opens the CF one or two steps on the indicator, otherwise stops the CF’s where they are. Open, opens them until fully open or switch is moved back to the mid position. 
 

Mine’s an M

[ZuluZulu]

Has he had someone operate the cowl flaps on the ground while he watched them from outside to see what they’re actually doing?

[OR75]

do they stay open during climb ?

 

[Adverseyaw0317]

Mine pop open with a tailwind or descent or close in a climb if I have the switch in the neutral position.


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