Service difficulty report · Hydraulic Line · Piper PA31T

Difficulty date
May 3, 2005
Submitted
May 18, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N2338V
Make and model
Piper PA31T
Aircraft serial
31T8020049
Part
Hydraulic Line
Part number
4613800
Condition
Ruptured
Location
Hydraulic Sys
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

POST ACCIDENT INSP REVEALED HYD SYSTEM DRAIN/FILL LINE HAD RUPTURED/BURST CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF HYD RESERVOIR CONTENTS. SELECTED GEAR DOWN, GEAR DID NOT EXTEND. ATTEMPTED EMER MANUAL GEAR EXTEN, (FELT GEAR COMING DOWN) LOST HYD PRESSURE. UNABLE TO SECURE GEAR IN DOWN AND LOCKED. AC SUSTAINED DAMAGE DURING EMER LANDING. FAILURE OF HYD DRAIN LINE CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF HYD FLUID RESERVOIR CONTENTS. FAILURE PREVENTED HYD SYS PRESSURE TO BUILD TO ALLOW NORMAL OR EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF THE LANDING GEAR. LINE FAILED PARALLEL TO GRAIN STRUCTURE RUPTURE APPROX 0.5625 IN LENGTH. WATER CONTAMINATION IN LINE FROZE, EXPANDED, CAUSING RUPTURE. SUGGEST REGULAR PURGE/DRAIN OF LINE CONTENTS DURING PLANNED MAINT. (K)

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