A method for determining a state of a component in a high lift system of an aircraft comprises the steps of extending at least one high lift surface, which is coupled with two drive struts, wherein at least one of the two drive struts is a load sensing drive strut, to a first extended position, acquiring a first load sensed by a load sensing drive strut associated with the at least one high lift surface at a first flight state having a first speed, comparing the first load with a known nominal load for the first extended position and the first flight state under consideration of a predetermined threshold, and producing an alarm signal in case the acquired load differs from the nominal load including the predetermined threshold.