Control lock

[whake]

I have a hole thru the yoke shaft. It appears to be in a position to neutralize the controls if just clear of the instrument panel.. Is there a control lock bracket available for my '45 T-Craft? if so what does it look like..how about a photo??? Walt

[Winston L.]

Re: Control lock

No, there is not a control lock that works like the Cessna lock. I don't think the hole should be there. At least I have never seen a hole in the yoke tube. I usually use the seat belt for a control lock.

[N95179]

Re: Control lock

I use one of those black rubber bungee cords between the two yokes. Keeps the ailerons from moving anyways.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Control lock

NO, NO, NO !

The controls get locked at the control surface, not at the pilot's end.

Hold the yoke some day and have someone move your ailerons and elevator back and forth as if it were gusty winds. Think of how easily that will wear out the entire !($*% control system.

Yoke mounted control locks are enthusiastically supported by the legal department (preventing a lawsuit from some idiot who forgets to remove the outside control lock) followed closely by the spare parts sales department, followed closely by the airframe repair shop department.

If the weather is bad enough that you would put on a control lock then it's bad enough that you should lock the controls to prevent damage to the control system.

I know this has been discussed before. I remember someone bringing up a tragic accident that happened because of external control locks. I stand by what I said, external control locks are better for the airplane. You can cause an accident by starting the flight without removing the hangar from around the aircraft too... that does not mean hangars are unsafe.

A solution would be to put a "remove before flight" warning flag in front of the ignition switch (like the Cessna control lock) that reminds the pilot to remove the external lock. There is a way to design external locks so they will come off only in a 60 MPH wind from directly in front of the aircraft, which would not damage the control surfaces anyway.

[N95179]

Re: Control lock

I still think an internal lock is better than none, and I don't scratch my paint. I just don't want a freak wind from the rear slamming my ailerons to the stops. With the elevators, I'd rather have gravity keep them down than lock them up as I see some people do. A strong wind from the rear would put them on their nose or worse.

I babysit the planes when it blows over 30 anyways.

[tawadc95]

Re: Control lock

I use external locks when parked outside and put a flag on the stick to remind me