Cracks And Corrosion

The pilot reported a loud "pop" just before entering the pattern. When he extended the gear, the green "gear down" light would not come on. A fly-by revealed the left main gear was in transit. A gear-up landing ensued. Inspection revealed the left main gear actuator (p/n 9882015-2) housing was cracked across the forward attach bolt hole. The cracked housing allowed the piston rack to jump gears on the pinion gear attached to the main gear leg. This area is inspected each 100 hours for cracks and defects very carefully, (using) lights and inspection mirrors. Time since last inspection: 25.0 hours.

Editorial Staff

Monday, November 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Multiple aircraft types reported critical mechanical failures, including a cracked main gear actuator, corroded control yokes, broken magneto impulse coupling springs, and failed gear downlocks.
Corrosion was a recurring issue, found in control yokes (potentially worsened by an AD-related alteration), magneto springs even with low service time, and Cirrus SR22 flap hinges near failure.
These incidents highlight the importance of thorough inspections and adherence to service bulletins, as failures occurred sometimes despite recent checks or involved parts with known advisories.

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Cessna 172RG

Cracked Main Gear Actuator

The pilot reported a loud “pop” just before entering the pattern. When he extended the gear, the green “gear down” light would not come on. A fly-by revealed the left main gear was in transit. A gear-up landing ensued. Inspection revealed the left main gear actuator (p/n 9882015-2) housing was cracked across the forward attach bolt hole. The cracked housing allowed the piston rack to jump gears on the pinion gear attached to the main gear leg. This area is inspected each 100 hours for cracks and defects very carefully, (using) lights and inspection mirrors. Time since last inspection: 25.0 hours.

Part Total Time: 6917.0 hours.

Cessna 172/180/185 (all models)

Control Yoke Corrosion

The FAA recently proposed an Airworthiness Directive mandating compliance with Cessna SEB01-3R1, regarding control yoke internal corrosion. The recommendation was issued after reported failure of a control yoke discovered while complying with