Service difficulty report · Retract Link · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
January 23, 1996
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Piper PA31
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
Retract Link
Part number
40277
Condition
Broken
Location
L/H Gear
Part time
8,754 hours
Component
Piper · 40277
Stage of operation
CL
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN)AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT SELECTED GEAR UP AND THE LEFT HAND GREEN LIGHT WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH. A SAFE LANDING WAS MADE AND INVESTIGATION FOUND THE LEFT HAND RETRACT LINK WAS BROKEN. SUBMITTER STATES THA T AD 88-05-05 WAS COMPLIED WITH 66.04 HOURS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE DOWNLOCK RIVETS SHEARED. THIS CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW THE UNLOCKING OF THE DOWNLOCK MECHANISM AND THE PRESSURE FROM THE GEAR RETRACT ACTUATOR CAUSED THE RETRACT LINK TO BREAK.

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