Service difficulty report · Push-Pull Rod · Piper PA30

Difficulty date
November 11, 2020
Submitted
December 4, 2020
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N16TW
Make and model
Piper PA30
Aircraft serial
30527
Aircraft time
4,060 hours
Part
Push-Pull Rod
Part number
455180
Condition
Broken
Location
Mlg
Part time
4,060 hours
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

DURING AN INSTRUCTION FLIGHT WITH THE OWNER AND INSTRUCTOR THE LANDING GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN WHILE ON APPROACH TO SNA. WHEN THE GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN THEY DID NOT EXTEND ALL THE WAY AND GOT A WARNING INDICATION IN THE COCKPIT THEY DID EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TRY AND GET THE GEAR DOWN BUT NOTHING WORKED. A PASS BY THE TOWER CONCURRED THEY WERE PARTIALLY EXTENDED. THE PLANE LANDED GEAR UP AND CAME TO A STOP WITH MINOR SHEET METAL DAMAGE. PAST INCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT MLG PUSH/PULL CONDUIT P/N IS 455-180 HAD BROKEN IN THE WHEEL WELL AND JAMMED AGAINST THE BULKHEAD IN THE GEAR WELL, IT WEDGED THE GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE LANDING GEAR DROP ANY FURTHER.

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