# SDR 2011FA0000004

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: December 31, 2010
- Submitted: January 4, 2011
- Operation: General aviation
- Aircraft: [N7771](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7771), registered now
- Make and model: Cessna 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 51771
- Aircraft time: 7,256 hours, 1,000 cycles
- Engine: Rotax ROTAX912ULS
- System (JASC): [3250 · Landing Gear Steering System](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/3250)
- Part: Link
- Part number: 05430358
- Condition: Cracked
- Location: Nlg Steering
- Part time: 7,256 hours, 1,000 cycles
- Stage of operation: IN
- How discovered: V
- Nature of condition: O
- Precautionary procedure: K
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/2011FA0000004

## Discrepancy

THE NOSE GEAR UPPER STRUT TORQUE LINK HAD 2 CRACKS (1CRACK ON EACH SIDE) OF THE LOWER SIDE NEAR TO THE UPPER ATTACH POINT.  IN TRYING TO FIND THE OWNER AN AIRWORTHY SERVICEABLE 1, CONTACTED 7 MAJOR SALVAGE DEALERS IN THE USA. THESE DEALERS FOUND THE SAME TYPE CRACKS IN THEIR LINKS. SUPPLIED THE DEALERS WITH A DIGITAL PHOTO OF THE DAMAGED PART.  FINALLY FOUND AN UNCRACKED LINK FROM A DEALER, BUT HE FOUND 4 OF HIS WERE ALSO CRACKED.  IF THE LINK WERE TO FAIL THERE WILL BE LOSS OF NOSE WHEEL STEERING AND IF THE LINK WERE TO FAIL AFTER TAKEOFF THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE NOSE WHEEL TURNING 90 DEGREES OR MORE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ACFT, PILOT AND OCCUPANTS.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of FAA and NTSB data. Only the Federal Register edition on govinfo.gov is the official legal text of an AD.