Section 7
Columbia 400 (LC41-550FG)
Description of the Airplane and Systems
Initial Issue of Manual: November 10, 2004
RC050002
Latest Revision Level/Date: -/11-10-2004
7-13
WING FLAPS
The airplane is equipped with electric Fowler-type flaps. During flap extension, the flaps move
out from the trailing edge of the wing, which increases both the camber and surface area of the
wing. A motor located under the front passenger’s seat and protected by a 10-amp circuit breaker
powers the flaps. A flap-shaped switch located in the flap switch panel, which is to the right of
the engine controls, operates the flaps.
The flap switch is labeled with three positions:
UP
(0
°
),
T/O
(12
°
), and
LANDING
(40
°
).
Rotating the flap switch clockwise retracts the flaps, and moving it counterclockwise extends the
flaps. A light bar on the flap knob flashes, at approximately 2 hertz, while the flaps are in
motion. When the flaps reach the selected position the flashing light stops. When landing flaps is
selected, the in-transit light will not extinguish until the airspeed drops below 100 KIAS. The
load caused by the higher airspeed prevents the flaps from going past approximately 37° until the
speed drops below 100 KIAS, and thus the load on the flaps is reduced. The illumination of the
flaps does not change with adjustments to the dimmer thumb-wheel switch. Controlling light
intensity and testing of the lights is discussed later in this section on page 7-64. See Figure 7 - 3
for a drawing of the instrument panel and cockpit layout.
When the flaps are in the up position, the knob is in a position parallel to the floor and points to
the UP label on the panel overlay. When flaps are in the takeoff position the knob is rotated 30°
counterclockwise from UP, and pointed to the T/O label. When flaps are in the down position,
the knob is rotated 30° more and points to the LANDING label. Flap extension speed placards
are posted on the flap switch panel overlay. See Figure 7 - 4 for a drawing of the flap panel.
Figure 7 - 4
LANDING GEAR
Main Gear –
The airplane has tricycle landing gear with the two main wheels located behind the
center of gravity (CG) and a nose wheel well forward of the CG point. The main gear is made
from high quality rod steel that has been gun-drilled (drilled through the center like the bore of a
gun barrel). The main gear is attached to a tubular steel gearbox that is bolted to the bottom of
the fuselage, just aft of the wing saddle. There are 6.00-6 tires (tire width and rim diameter in
inches) that are inflated to 55 psi and mounted to the gear with Cleveland disc brakes. Composite
wheel fairings are mounted over each tire to reduce drag.
Nose Gear –
The nose gear has a nitrogen and oil-filled oleo-type strut that is bolted to the
engine mount and serves as a shock absorber. Forcing oil through orifices in the piston and an
internal plug or barrier absorbs landing or vertical impact. A rotation key or vane working within
