Service difficulty report · Bracket · Beech B200

Difficulty date
July 23, 2010
Submitted
January 4, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Beech B200
Aircraft time
17,622 hours
Engine
Pwa PT642A
Propeller
Hartzl HCB3TN3
Part
Bracket
Part number
5082018214
Condition
Damaged
Location
Nlg Door
Component
Door · Beech
Component part number
50820179
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

FASTENERS ATTACHING FITTING PN 50-820182-14 TO INNER AND OUTER GEAR DOOR SKINS LOOSEN AFTER TIME. AMES REPLACE AND UPSIZE THE FASTENERS, WHICH IS STANDARD PRACTICE. THE FITTING IS ONLY .2500 INCH WIDE. THE ORIGINAL FASTENERS ARE .1250 DIAMETER, WHICH LEAVES AN EDGE DISTANCE OF .1250 WHICH IS AGAINST STANDARD PRACTICE, BUT IT IS OEM CONFIG BY UPSIZING THE FASTENER EVEN ONE SIZE, THE .1250 ED IS CONSUMED TO ALMOST NOTHING THEREBY WEAKENING THE BRACKET SUBSTANTIALLY. THIS CONDITION COULD EASILY LEAD TO A LANDING GEAR FAILURE. DUE TO THE BLIND NATURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION, AMES ARE INADVERTANTLY CREATING THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT IS A POOR DESIGN BY THE OEM WITH LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR.

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