Cheetah; Tiger; Traveler AA5 Series
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 1200; Flight Crew Type 90
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Human Factors
Upon recovering to 90kts 'maneuvering cruise' flight after demonstrating a stall; it was noted that an annoying level of right pressure was required on the flight controls to maintain wings level. At first I attributed this to a fuel imbalance; though it didn't quite make sense that such an imbalance would have developed in such a short time. Looking out at the right wing I then noted that the right flap had not retracted fully; and was still extended perhaps 2 to 7 degrees (estimated). I made the decision to terminate the flight; and took control from my student for the remainder of the flight; though I continued to talk them through my ADM; so they could learn from the real-world lesson. Evaluating the situation; I elected to remain within a reduced flight envelope near the point that had already been proven. This meant maintaining speed at or below 90kts; throttle setting at or below about 2100 RPM; roughly 1g load factor; and no further flap setting changes. Rather than return to the airport of departure; which was beyond some hills creating orographic turbulence that could have added to the load factor; I elected to return to a nearby airport that had long; wind-aligned runways; this would provide ample margin for a no-flap landing and obviate the necessity for any side slip aerodynamic forces from a crosswind landing. I approached and landed without issue; and taxied to parking. Looking over the flap; someone wiggled it; and it popped right back to its normal position. The suspect roller was greased; the flap mechanism was inspected; and no further issue arose.
AA-5B Flight Instructor reported a flap asymmetry condition in flight.