Service difficulty report · Fitting · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
February 10, 2017
Submitted
February 13, 2017
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N3589B
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
318052134
Aircraft time
16,430 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Engine time
1,066 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Fitting
Condition
Sheared
Location
Hyd Actuator
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, J
Precautionary procedure
L, A

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

What was found

ON APPROACH, NOTICED THAT ONLY THE TWO MAIN GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS INDICATED GREEN. THE NOSE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AND THE RED TRANSFER LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. T RECYCLED THE GEAR HANDLE, NO CHANGE TO THE MAIN OR THE NOSE GEAR POSITIONS. THE APPROACH WAS ABORTED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN BACK DEPARTURE, WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED, INSTRUCTED TO CYCLE THE LANDING GEAR EMERGENCY PUMP. THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE NOSE GEAR POSITION. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE NOSE GEAR IN NOT DOWN AND NOT LOCKED POSITION. SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. AFTER LANDING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR'S DOWN PRESSURE FITTING HAD SHEARED AT THE ATTACHMENT SITE OF THE ACTUATOR.

More about the Piper PA-31-350