Service difficulty report · Bolt · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
September 3, 2008
Submitted
November 3, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft time
13,165 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A67B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Bolt
Part number
9321921210
Condition
Broken
Location
Pivot Pin
Part time
322 hours
Component
Pivot Pin · Pilats
Component part number
532101221
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
N
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) ON TAKE OFF THE PILOTS NOTED AN AIR/GROUND LIGHT ON AND THE GEAR WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT. THE PILOTS RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND MX LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM. THE ACFT WAS PLACED UP ON JACKS AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT 1 OF THE WEIGHT ON WHEEL SWITCHES WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TARGET. THE WOW SWITCH WHICH WAS MAKING CONTACT WAS INSPECTED CLOSER AND FOUND THAT THE PIVOT PIN HAD TWISTED. THE PIVOT PIN IS HELD IN PLACE WITH A BOLT AND THE BOLT WAS FOUND SHEARED INTO 3 PIECES. THE BOLT HEAD AND NUT WAS HELD IN PLACE BY THE SEALANT THAT PREVENTS WATER ENTERING ALONG THE BOLT. THE PIVOT PIN WAS REMOVED AND THE SHANK OF THE BOLT WAS REMOVED AND THE GEAR WAS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND FOUND SERVICEABLE. A NEW PIVOT PIN AND BOLT WAS INSTALLED AND LUBED AND GEAR SWINGS COMPLETED SERVICEABLE. IT WAS NOTED THAT DURING DISASSEMBLY THERE WAS GREASE ON BOTH THE PIVOT PIN AND BUSHINGS.