Service difficulty report · Tube · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
February 25, 2008
Submitted
April 8, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5341Z
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496107
Engine
Lyc O360*
Part
Tube
Part number
86262003
Condition
Worn
Location
Mlg
Part time
2,193 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

NOSE GEAR DOOR TUBE PN 86262003 FOUND WITH GROOVE WORN INTO TUBE AT APPROX 65 PERCENT OF TUBE THICKNESS IN THE AREA OF THE LT AND RT SUPPORTS PN 86262-005 AND 86262-012 RESPECTIVELY. THIS TUBE CONNECTS TO THE LT AND RT NOSE GEAR DOOR RODS AND PIVOTS AS THE GEAR IS RAISED AND LOWERED AND IT IS AT THE PIVOT POINT OF THE TUBE WHERE THIS WEAR IS OCCURRING. CURRENTLY THERE IS A NYLON BUSHING PN 452647 THAT IS INSERTED AT THIS PIVOT POINT TO PROVIDE FOR SOME PROTECTION OF THE TUBE. THERE IS HOWEVER, NO WEAR TO THIS NYLON BUSHING. IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT THIS NYLON BUSHING IS THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR AND PROVIDES NO GUARD AGAINST PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE TUBE. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR LUBRICATION AT THIS PIVOT POINT. FAILURE OF THIS TUBE ASSY COULD RESULT INTO INADEQUATE GEAR MOVEMENT. RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE FOR SOME TYPE OF BEARING BLOCK WITH LUBRICATION POINTS. (K)

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