Service difficulty report · Cable Assy · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
February 24, 2022
Submitted
February 24, 2022
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N74825
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317852124
Aircraft time
4,557 hours
Part
Cable Assy
Part number
5541602
Condition
Loose
Location
Zone 700
Component
Bracket Assembl · Piper
Component part number
4416600
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

N74825 DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR LANDING GEAR MALFUNCTION DURING APPROACH TO LAND AT 3J7, GREEN COUNTY AIRPORT, GREENSBORO GA. LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND NORMALLY OR ALTERNATELY. AIRCRAFT DID A LOW APPROACH PAST TOWER TO VERIFY LANDING GEAR WERE NOT DOWN. AIRCRAFT DIVERTED TO KAHN, ATHENS, GA AND PERFORMED A GEAR UP LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED THE LANDING GEAR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY PART NUMBER 55416-02, HAD THE CABLE HOUSING RETENTION NUT LOOSENED WHERE IT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE SUPPORT BRACKET ASSEMBLY PART NUMBER 44166-00. THIS CABLE ASSEMBLY NUT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BACKED OFF FROM THE SUPPORT BRACKET APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO INCHES. THIS CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CABLE TO ACTUATE THE LANDING GEAR POWER PACK CONTROL UNIT INPUT ARM TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR, OR ALLOW THE LANDING GEAR TO BE ALTERNATELY EXTENDED WITH THE HAND PUMP. WHEN THE CONTROL CABLE WAS ACTUATED MANUALLY AND RETAINED AT THE SUPPORT BRACKET THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED NORMALLY ON JACKS. A REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT REVEAL ANY MAINTENANCE TASKS RELATED TO THE LANDING GEAR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY. AN INSPECTION OF THE NUT, LOCK WASHER, CABLE HOUSING BARREL THREADS, AND BRACKET BOSS DID NOT REVEAL ANY DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE NUT TO LOOSEN. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THE CABLE ASSEMBLY HOUSING LOCK NUT HAD BECOME LOOSENED AT THE SUPPORT BRACKET.

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