Motoring

While in cruise flight, pilot noticed smoke coming out from under instrument panel. Pilot aborted flight but noticed landing gear extension much slower than normal. Aircraft was placed on jacks and gear retracted. Pump motor (p/n 98811281) could be heard grinding and working very slowly. Pump motor was too hot to be touched. Battery was disconnected, aborting retraction. New pump and motor were installed.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft motors in critical systems such as landing gear, autopilot, fuel, and flaps are susceptible to various types of failures.
Failure symptoms range from smoke and burning smells to slow operation, grinding, and complete system inoperability, often caused by electrical shorts, mechanical breakdowns, or contamination.
These motor malfunctions can lead to significant operational disruptions, including aborted flights, emergency gear-up landings, and loss of essential flight control functions.