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How Well Do You Know Aircraft Landing Gear?

The care and keeping of landing gear is the baseline for any aircraft maintenance organization.

As with everything airplane-related, the topic of landing gear maintenance ranges from simple to extreme. [SBD-6 Dauntless Photo Courtesy: Smithsonian Institution]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article categorizes aircraft landing gear into fixed/retractable and conventional (tailwheel)/tricycle types, with maintenance standards detailed in FAA AC 43.13-1B and components classified under ATA 32.
  • Comprehensive landing gear maintenance, including regular inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and retraction tests ("swinging the gear"), is critical for safety and adherence to OEM guidelines and proper tooling.
  • Expert advice highlights specific overhaul schedules (e.g., King Air's 8,000 flight hours/6 years), vigilance for common issues like corrosion, and the importance of selecting experienced, Part 145 certified MROs.
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It starts at about 5 o’clock, just after quitting time for most businesses. People wander into the hangar, making small talk and eyeing the tables along the wall. Some have a small covered dish, maybe a bag of chips, and others carry coolers. Kids play cornhole on the grass beside the building, and someone produces a Bluetooth speaker for tunes. 

“Tuesday Evening Wing Night” at Tailwheel Alley is a time-honored tradition at Georgia’s Newnan-Coweta County Airport (KCCO). Several aircraft, such as a Pitts, a Christen Eagle, a Citabria—and others—populate the ramp. Perhaps someone will take one around the pattern, or they just like showing off. Pilots kick tires, boast about maneuvers, and enjoy good-natured ribbing. Someone fires up an engine, and all heads turn in unison.  

Richard Scarbrough

Richard is a US Navy Veteran, A&P Mechanic, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumni. His experience ranges from general and corporate aviation to helicopters, business jets, and commercial airliners. Former owner of a 145 repair station, he currently has an aerospace product management role and is a member of the T-C-Alliance. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @RScarCo.

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