Service difficulty report · Proximity Switch · Pilats PC1247E

Difficulty date
March 23, 2023
Submitted
March 23, 2023
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N799L
Make and model
Pilats PC1247E
Aircraft serial
1675
Aircraft time
1,923 hours, 4,285 cycles
Engine
Pwc PT6A67P
Engine time
1,923 hours, 4,285 cycles
Part
Proximity Switch
Part number
9733033116
Part serial
5868
Condition
Unserviceable
Location
Zone 700
Part time
1,923 hours, 4,285 cycles
Component
Nose Gear · Pilats
Component part number
9733033116
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PILOT DISCREPANCY AND ASAP-13 WRITE-UP: UPON REACHING CRUISE ALTITUDE, 3 GEAR UNSAFE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE “AIRSPEED” AURAL WARNING STARTED GOING OFF DUE TO US BEING ABOVE 180KIAS. AFTER SLOWING THE AIRCRAFT, WE CONTINUED TOWARDS PHNL AND TRIED EXTENDING THE GEAR. AFTER GETTING GREEN INDICATIONS FOR BOTH MAIN GEAR, WE WERE STILL RECEIVING THE UNSAFE INDICATION FOR THE NOSE. WE PERFORMED THE CHECKLIST ITEMS REQUIRED FOR EMERGENCY EXTENSION, BUT THAT STILL DID NOT PRODUCE A GEAR SAFE INDICATION. AFTER A FLY-BY ON 4L TO GET VISUAL CONFIRMATION FROM TOWER THAT ALL 3 GEAR WERE DOWN, WE DECIDED TO PERFORM THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST FOR LANDING WITH NOSE GEAR UNSAFE SINCE THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE NOSE WAS NOT LOCKED IN PLACE. AFTER (UNEVENTFUL) LANDING AND SECURING THE ENGINE WE WERE ABLE TO ROLL CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY AND SAFELY EVACUATE BOTH PASSENGERS. MAINTENANCE: WITH GUIDANCE FROM PILATUS ENGINEERING, HONEYWELL, WESTERN TECH REP, AND DOM OFFICE. INSPECTED ALL GEAR AND SWITCHES, WIRING. PERFORMED GEAR ADJUSTMENT AND TEST AND MULTIPLE SWINGS, NO DEFECTS NOTED. PILATUS ENGINEERING REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH NOSE GEAR UPLOCK AND DOWN LOCK PROXIMITY SWITCHES. REPLACEMENT COMPLETED AND MULTIPLE GEAR SWINGS COMPLETED FOLLOWED BY EXTENSIVE OPERATIONAL CHECK FLIGHT. NO FURTHER ISSUES NOTED, AIRCRAFT APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE UNDER WORK ORDER N799LA-230227-1