Service difficulty report · Bolt · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
January 25, 2005
Submitted
March 3, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
16,852 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2C
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Bolt
Part number
AN17413
Condition
Failed
Location
Nlg
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) WHEN THE NOSE WAS LOWERED DURING LANDING, A SEVERE VIBRATION DEVELOPED WHEN THE NOSE TIRE TOUCHED THE RUNWAY. STEERING WAS NOT AVAILABLE BUT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED WITH RUDDER. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE VIBRATION EASED UP. TURNING TO EXIT THE RUNWAY WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY DIFFERENTIAL ENGINE POWER. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUTDOWN IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BOLT HOLDING THE UPPER AND LOWER NOSE SCISSOR LINKS TOGETHER WAS MISSING AND THE LINKS WERE OPEN. SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT FOUND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHICH PART FAILED, THE BOLT, THE NUT OR THE LOCKING PIN. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE TIRE. NEW HARDWARE WAS INSTALLED.

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