M-20 J (201) / Allegro
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 44; Flight Crew Total 640
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
On routine ILS practice approach; I executed a low approach and moved to climb and retract the drag flaps. The flaps remained deflected; and the electric switch did not activate the flap motor as expected. Troubleshooting; including resetting the flap circuit breaker; did not bring improvement; so flight was continued to the aircraft's home airport due to sufficient climb performance; with flight being conducted entirely in the white airspeed arc. During the flight; I continued to attempt troubleshooting to bring the flaps up; but did not succeed. On the landing roll-out; as a checklist item and also out of a sense that maybe the lower airspeed or 'bump' from landing - though it was a very soft landing - may be a variable that could bring about change - I was surprised to find that the flaps did indeed retract. On taxi and prior to shutdown; I found the flaps to repeatedly behave correctly on further tests up and down.A similar event occurred about a year ago; with our maintenance shop considering that frost inside the flap mechanism could have been a factor or cause. I always doubted that; and believe that due to above-freezing temperatures today; we can rule that out. Out of abundance of caution; I then grounded the plane so our maintenance shop could inspect.
M20J pilot reported the electric switch did not activate the flap motor during flap retraction. After landing the flaps operated normally.