Flap Stepped on

[Mooney810]

Mooney Space,

Please forgive me… new pilot, new Mooney owner, and new to the group!

Took my wife to see our new (to us) 1967 Mooney. I was playing with the battery tender on the other side of the plane when the flaps jolted. I looked up to see my wife (130lbs) was on the wing to sit in the plane. She accidentally stepped on the flap. She thought the “no step” meant that exact spot. I can’t get mad at her because she is brand new to aviation. So go easy on her. Looks like she may not have been the first either. There are a few scratches on that part of the flap and maybe a slight (very slight) depression. 
 

Might be my OCD or just the extreme caution being new to everything, but should I be worried or check anything specially? 
 FYI: I tested the hydraulic flaps and they still worked in the hangar.

 

Thanks!!

[N201MKTurbo]

You are fine. I’m sure she won’t do it again. Our Mooneys are tough birds.

[Bartman]

My flap has been stepped on too.  Wife and I know better, but I lower the flaps before allowing ingress or egress for passengers. 

[M20F]

Your average 60yr old Mooney flap has been stepped on @ 1600 times.  

[cbarry]

This story makes me want to put another set of “no step” labels directly on the flaps.  I do find it helpful to lower the flaps completely before folks board or disembark.  The greater the angle, the less the flap appears like a walkway.

[Joshua Blackh4t]

6 hours ago, Mooney810 said:

Mooney Space,

Please forgive me… new pilot, new Mooney owner, and new to the group!

Took my wife to see our new (to us) 1967 Mooney. I was playing with the battery tender on the other side of the plane when the flaps jolted. I looked up to see my wife (130lbs) was on the wing to sit in the plane. She accidentally stepped on the flap. She thought the “no step” meant that exact spot. I can’t get mad at her because she is brand new to aviation. So go easy on her. Looks like she may not have been the first either. There are a few scratches on that part of the flap and maybe a slight (very slight) depression. 
 

Might be my OCD or just the extreme caution being new to everything, but should I be worried or check anything specially? 
 FYI: I tested the hydraulic flaps and they still worked in the hangar.

 

Thanks!!

The beauty of hydraulic flaps is they can be stepped on and will move down without any/much ill effect except the person standing on the will fall off.

Its only a spring holding them up, all the hydraulic force is the other way.

Its actually quite reassuring when parked outside in places where kids might go investigating. 

I often put them down for passengers. Again, the manual ones win because no need to use up battery power. 

[1980Mooney]

@Mooney810  My J model has a nice dent in the flap right where the "No Step" is located.  It was that way 25+ years ago when I bought it.  It has been stepped on accidentally in the same place many times in the 25 following years - and yes once or twice by me when tired or entering/exiting in pitch darkness.

And the flaps have always worked just fine.

[GeeBee]

One of the things I do with people unfamiliar with aircraft when boarding or disembarking is I put the flaps full down. Keeps them from stepping on it.

 

[Hank]

20 hours ago, Bartman said:

My flap has been stepped on too.  Wife and I know better, but I lower the flaps before allowing ingress or egress for passengers. 

I telll them "step on the black, not the white." This won't help if your wing walk is painted to match your plane.

[Max Clark]

I’ve had a few people tell me to keep the flaps at TO all the time to help avoid this

Also not having passengers has helped as well

[McMooney]

it's the mooney curse, i have to put my flaps down and buy a step stool so people avoid my flaps.  heck i had to buy seat covers cause everyone wants to step on the seats when getting in and out

[Justin Schmidt]

On 12/28/2024 at 4:39 PM, Mooney810 said:

Mooney Space,

Please forgive me… new pilot, new Mooney owner, and new to the group!

Took my wife to see our new (to us) 1967 Mooney. I was playing with the battery tender on the other side of the plane when the flaps jolted. I looked up to see my wife (130lbs) was on the wing to sit in the plane. She accidentally stepped on the flap. She thought the “no step” meant that exact spot. I can’t get mad at her because she is brand new to aviation. So go easy on her. Looks like she may not have been the first either. There are a few scratches on that part of the flap and maybe a slight (very slight) depression. 
 

Might be my OCD or just the extreme caution being new to everything, but should I be worried or check anything specially? 
 FYI: I tested the hydraulic flaps and they still worked in the hangar.

 

Thanks!!

Not usually an issue. I slipped and fell on mine. I can tell you how a step up the ass feels...not enjoyable. I did have my A&P look at it. No issues, just bent the sheet metal at the end a little.

[Yetti]

Paintless dent repair will pull it out.   You can buy a kit several online places

[Pinecone]

 Nice ceramic coating will help.  They will not be able to apply much pressure before their foot slips off.