SDR 99ZZZX4041

Service difficulty report · Hinge · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
September 28, 1999
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N728CA
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317752035
Part
Hinge
Part number
4665300
Condition
Failed
Location
Rt Mlg Door
Part time
5,798 hours
Component
4752931
Stage of operation
CL
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

UPON TAKEOFF, PILOT NOTED LANDING GEAR FAILED TO FULLY RETRACT AS INDICATED BY GEAR UNLOCKED LIGHT ILLUMINATION. LANDING GEAR RECYCLED WITH SAME RESULT. COPILOT WAS ABLE TO VISUALLY ASCERTAIN GEAR WAS NOT FULLY RETRACTED. GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN AND A NON-EVENTFUL LANDING MADE. INSP OF GEAR DISCLOSED RT MLG INBD DOOR WAS DAMAGED AND BEING HELD IN PLACE BY ONLY AFT HINGE AND HYD ACTUATOR. 20 PERCENT OF SPOT WELDS ON DOOR ASSY HAD SEPARATED RESULTING IN THE DOOR SKIN BEING PEALED BACK. THE HYD ACTUATOR, DOOR HINGE BRACKETS, AND WW STRUCTURE WERE DAMAGED, RT INBD LANDING GEAR DOOR FWD HINGE HAD CRACKED IN HALF. FAILURE OF THE HINGE CAUSED SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO ADJACENT ACFT STRUCTURES AND COMPONENTS.

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