Service difficulty report · Hinge · Lear 55C

Difficulty date
October 30, 2006
Submitted
November 7, 2006
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N552TL
Make and model
Lear 55C
Aircraft serial
139
Engine
Garrtt TFE731*
Part
Hinge
Part number
558104718
Condition
Failed
Location
Rt Mlg Door
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED, DURING CLIMB AT ABOUT 13,000 FT THE CREW NOTICED A STRANGE AIRFLOW NOISE AS IF A GEAR DOOR WAS OPEN, ALL INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS WERE GOOD. (3 GREEN). UPON LANDING, VISUAL INSPECTION NOTED THAT RT GEAR OB DOOR WAS MISSING. VISUAL INSP FOUND THAT THE PIANO HINGE WHICH ATTACHED THE DOOR TO THE WING HAD STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND BROKE CLEAN ACROSS THE LENGTH OF THE HINGE, AT THAT POINT THE LOWER ATTACHMENT BRACKET CRACKED. THE HARDWARE ATTACHING THE DOOR TO THE ROD END WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE GEAR. ALL THE HARDWARE WAS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND WAS NOT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. IT IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS POINT, THE REASON FOR THE HINGE/STRUCTURAL FAILURE. (K)

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