# "That's one way to flat spot a tire"

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-the-a-ps-1305830/that-s-one-way-to-flat-spot-a-tire
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-the-a-ps-1305830/that-s-one-way-to-flat-spot-a-tire.md
Podcast: [Ask the A&Ps](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-the-a-ps-1305830)
Published: 2025-07-15T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AOPA9349987721.mp3?updated=1752232363
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AOPA9349987721.mp3?updated=1752232363
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ask-the-a-ps-1305830/episodes/that-s-one-way-to-flat-spot-a-tire
Duration seconds: 2519

## Resource

Mike, Paul, and Colleen explain why they almost never set their parking brakes. Plus, valve guide concerns and gotchas on preflight. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: William wants to know how Mike, Paul, and Colleen do preflight inspections as A&Ps, and if they look at something that most pilots don’t. Colleen said she always checks the last thing she worked on. She suggests to look really carefully at any work that’s recently been completed. Paul mentions the nut and cotter pin on the trim tabs on Cessnas, especially after maintenance. Mike said he worries if the airplane has been moved while on the ground for things like tow limits. Paul also said to check nests, pitot covers, and fuel vent covers for bugs, dirt daubers, etc. Michael is wondering what’s wrong with his parking brake. When he first bought the airplane, the parking break worked to hold the airplane, but wouldn’t release without touching the brakes again. Now, after some work during annual, if it’s anything more than an idle, it won’t hold. Paul said he only ever sets the parking brake to get out and set the chocks. There are only two possibilities, the hosts say. IT’s either mechanically mis-rigged, where the valve isn’t cutting off the line completely, and the other is that the valve is leaking. Paul said the system is simple. You hold the brakes, and the valve pinches off the line. Joey has a Cessna 150 and he does a lot of his own maintenance. About a year ago he had a stuck exhaust valve. A local mechanic did the rope trick to free the valve. He cleaned the exhaust valve guides, although not thoroughly enough. He had planned to do it every 300 hours. He and his wife were flying a few months late…

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