Service difficulty report · Actuator · Mooney M20J

Difficulty date
January 21, 2022
Submitted
January 21, 2022
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4815H
Make and model
Mooney M20J
Aircraft serial
240888
Aircraft time
5,700 hours
Engine
Lyc IO360A1C
Part
Actuator
Part number
102000
Part serial
732
Condition
Used
Location
Zone 100
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
Z, Z, Z
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PRIOR TO LANDING THE PILOT RECEIVED AN AUDIBLE GEAR WARNING HORN, BUT THE GEAR INDICATOR SHOWED A GREEN LIGHT. THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED BUT FAILED TO LOCK DUE TO THE ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR CAUSING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO POP. THE PILOT COULD NOT GET THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO RESET DURING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, OR MANUALLY GET THE GEAR TO LOCK. HE DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE. THE THREE GEARS COLLAPSED WHEN THE WHEELS CONTACTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE. DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR, OBSERVED BATTERY POWER APPLIED TO THE AIRPLANE, WHEN THE LANDING GEAR SWITCH MOVED TO THE "DOWN" POSITION, THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENED. DISCONNECTED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FROM THE GEAR MOTOR, RESET LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER, APPLIED POWER TO THE AIRPLANE, AND OBSERVED THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER REMAINING CLOSED. THESE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS SHOWED ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR SWITCH AND GEAR MOTOR WIRING. IT ALSO REVEALED A FAILURE IN THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR, CAUSING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN WHEN THE GEAR SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE "DOWN" POSITION.

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