Service difficulty report · Strut · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
March 9, 2001
Submitted
April 12, 2001
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft time
1,351 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A67B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Strut
Part number
5711012353
Condition
Broken
Location
Oil Cooler Door
Part time
331 hours, 226 cycles
Component
Oil Cooler Door · Pilats · 5711012141
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) THE SHOCK STRUT IS ACTUALLY AN ALUMINUM TUBE. THE SHOCK STRUT IS ATTACHEED TO THE FLAP STRUT WITH A STRAIGHT PIN. TWO SPRINGS KEEP THE FLAP DOOR CLOSED ALL THE TIME EXCEPT WHEN THE NLG IS DOWN. THE CONSTANT TENSION ON THE ALUMINUM SHOCK STRUT RESULTS IN PREMATURE WEAR AT THE HOLES. THE FAILRE OF THAT STRUT COULD LEAD TO HIGH OIL TEMERATURE ON THE GROUND. THE FLAP STRUT END COULD POSSIBLY PIERCE THE SKIN WITH THE VIBRATION. THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARS EVERY 300-400 HOURS AFTER THE PART IS REPLACED.