Strutting

During landing gear retraction tests, it was noted the nose wheel assembly would contact the right nose gear doors aft hinge during landing gear cycle. Also, the nose wheel assembly contacted the nose wheel well structure when fully retracted. Precision measurements determined the nose strut assembly-to-aircraft-structure attach points were misaligned.

Key Takeaways:

• Landing gear struts are susceptible to manufacturing or installation defects, such as misaligned attach points or oversized mounting holes, even on new components.
• Operational wear, fatigue, and environmental stress can lead to various structural failures, including damaged retaining pins, pre-existing cracks (often exacerbated by hard landings), or complete strut breaks.
• Some critical internal damage to struts may only be discoverable through complete disassembly, posing a challenge for routine inspections.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.