What amount of free play of an elevator full-span trim tab is considered excessive given a chord of 4.5 inches?

The appropriate amount of free play for a full-span trim tab is based on a standard percentage of the control surface's chord length. The industry generally considers that a certain percentage of the chord is an acceptable limit for free play, which helps ensure proper function and control of the aircraft's surfaces.

For a chord measurement of 4.5 inches, a common guideline indicates that an acceptable level of free play is around 1.5% to 2% of the chord length. Calculating this, 1.5% of 4.5 inches equates to 0.0675 inches, and 2% equates to 0.09 inches. However, for determining what is considered excessive free play, we typically look lower than these percentages.

Among the choices provided, 0.060 inches stands just below the 1.5% threshold, making it a reasonable figure when analyzing what's considered excessive. Thus, while it may not seem significantly different from other measurements available, both industry standards and practical flight experiences guide us toward these determinations.

In conclusion, the measurement of 0.060 inches is viewed as excessive for free play in an elevator full-span trim tab, as it slightly approaches the threshold where it may impact the