Service difficulty report · O-Ring · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
March 18, 1996
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Piper PA31
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
O-Ring
Part number
MS28775114
Condition
Worn
Location
Nlg Actuator
Component
Ozone · OAS29233
Stage of operation
TO
Nature of condition
J, K
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN)THE CREW RETRACTED THE GEAR AND THE CYCLE FAILED TO COMPLETE, RESULTING A GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT. THE GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN AND FELL BUT WOULD NOT LOCK. THE HAND PUMP WAS USED AND THE GEAR WAS LOCKED INTO THE DOWN POSITION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LEAKING O-RING ON THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR RETRACT CIRCUIT. THIS ALLOWED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID TO LEAK OUT ON EVERY CYCLE OF THE GEAR TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT FLUID TO COMPLETE THE CYCLE. THE EMERGENCY HAND PUMP DRAWS FLUID FROM DEEPER IN THE RESERVOIR & ALLOWED THE CYCLE TO BE COMPLETED. THE ACTUATOR O-RING WAS REPLACED, RESERVOIR SERVICED AND THE GEAR CHECKED OUT OK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

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