Service difficulty report · Bracket · Piper PA31T

Difficulty date
December 27, 2012
Submitted
January 31, 2013
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N20TN
Make and model
Piper PA31T
Aircraft serial
317920019
Aircraft time
8,590 hours, 8,770 cycles
Part
Bracket
Part number
4061600040616003
Condition
Broken
Location
Lt Mlg
Part time
8,590 hours, 8,770 cycles
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
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

LEFT MLG UPLOCK HOOK MOUNT BRACKET'S FWD P/N 40616-000, AFT P/N 40616-003, BROKE FREE AT THE HOOK MOUNTING POINT OF THE BRACKETS. THE GEAR EXTENDED TO A DOWN AND LOCKED CONDITION ALLOWING A NONE EVENT LANDING OF THE ACFT. THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WAS TAXIED THREW BEFORE TAKEOFF AND VERY COOL ICING CONDITION THAT WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THE FLIGHT. THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM FLIGHT LEVEL 2300 TO LANDING IN UNDER 4 MIN'S. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED THE LANDING GEAR HOOK TO FREEZE PREVENTING IT FROM UNLOCKING NORMALLY ON GEAR EXTENSION FOR LANDING. ALL OTHER COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE WITHOUT ANY DEFECTS NOTED AT THIS TIME.

More about the Piper PA-31T