A pilot in Anchorage showed me a trick with a paper clip for a stuck DME knob

We were stuck on the ramp with a King KDM 706A that wouldn't turn on. The pilot, an older guy named Carl, pulled a paper clip from his flight bag, straightened it, and gently slid it under the power knob's edge. He gave it a tiny wiggle and the unit clicked right on. He said, 'Dirt gets in there and stops the switch from making contact. This has saved me a dozen times.' Has anyone else found a simple fix like that for a stubborn avionics switch?

2 comments

2 Comments

hall.nora1d ago

Oh man, that's a lifesaver.

the_phoenix1d ago

Tbh a little tap with a pen cap works for a sticky transponder IDENT button too.