AIRWORTHINESS BULLETIN AWB 32-005 Issue : 1 Lubrication of Landing Gear – Piper Aircraft
Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III · Service Bulletins
Overview
This Airworthiness Bulletin (AWB) addresses the lubrication of the landing gear for various Piper Aircraft models, including the PA-42 Cheyenne III. It highlights a safety concern regarding the main landing gear down-lock assembly, particularly in the context of Australian operational conditions. The bulletin stems from an incident involving a PA-31-350 Chieftain where inadequate lubrication led to a failure in landing gear deployment. The document recommends more frequent inspections and lubrication intervals to mitigate risks associated with landing gear failures. It emphasizes compliance with Piper Service Letter SL 755 and provides guidance on the appropriate maintenance practices for ensuring safe operation of the landing gear system.
- The bulletin applies to multiple Piper models, including the PA-42 Cheyenne III.
- Inadequate lubrication of the landing gear down-lock assembly can lead to serious operational failures.
- Operators should inspect and lubricate landing gear components every 50 hours, rather than the previous 100-hour interval.
- Compliance with Piper Service Letter SL 755 is strongly recommended to ensure safety.
- All incidents related to landing gear failures should be reported to CASA for safety monitoring.
Document
Source
Originally published by www.casa.gov.au. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type
- Service Bulletins
- Year
- 2005
- Pages
- 3
- File size
- 30 KB
- Publisher
- www.casa.gov.au
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In this document
Applicability
This bulletin applies to several Piper Aircraft models, including the PA-42 Cheyenne III, along with various PA-31 models. It is crucial for operators of these aircraft to be aware of the specific maintenance recommendations outlined in this document.
Background
The bulletin discusses a specific incident involving a PA-31-350 Chieftain where the right main landing gear down-light did not illuminate, leading to a gear-up landing. The investigation revealed that inadequate lubrication of the main landing gear down-lock assembly was a significant factor contributing to this failure.
Recommendation
To address the identified safety risks, the bulletin recommends that operators perform inspections and lubrication of the landing gear lock actuator rod and related components every 50 hours, or whenever the landing gear and wheel areas are washed. This is a revision from the previous 100-hour interval, reflecting the harsher operational conditions in Australia.
Service Difficulty Reporting Program
The bulletin encourages reporting any landing gear failures or defects through the Service Difficulty Reporting (SDR) program. Detailed reports, including photographs of affected components, are valuable for ongoing safety assessments.
Enquiries
For further inquiries regarding this bulletin, contact the Manufacturing, Certification and New Technologies Office via the provided email or mailing address.
Safety notes
- Failure to comply with the recommendations may result in landing gear operation difficulties.
- Inadequate lubrication can lead to severe damage and safety risks during landing.
Full document text
AIRWORTHINESS BULLETIN AWB 32-005 Issue : 1 Lubrication of Landing Gear – Piper Aircraft Date : 27 September 2005 Page 1 of 3 1. Applicability Piper Aircraft models: PA-31; PA-31-300; PA-31-325 Navajo; PA-31-350 Chieftain; PA-31-350 T-1020; PA-31P Pressurized Navajo; PA-31T Cheyenne, Cheyenne II; PA-31T1 Cheyenne I; PA-31T2 Cheyenne II XL; PA-31T3 T-1040; and PA-42 Cheyenne III. 2. Background During preparation for landing, the pilot of a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain aircraft selected landing gear down but the right main down-light did not illuminate. The aircraft eventually landed with the landing gear up. Substantial damage occurred to the aircraft. Preliminary investigation conducted by Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) identified inadequate lubrication of the main landing gear (MLG) down-lock assembly pivot as the main contributory factor. The MLG hook assembly did not fully engage resulting in non actuation of the down-light micro-switch (ATSB Investigation Report 200503694). A joint review of the Service Difficulty Reports / Accidents / Incidents database by ATSB & CASA revealed additional events related to MLG down-lock defects or anomalies. 2.1 Analysis The aircraft manufacturer traces the problem of landing gear down-lock failure to the following factors: i. Lack of inspection and / or lubrication for actuator rod end bearing, down- lock latch and pivot bolt, leading to corrosion, improper ball rotation and jamming. ii. Location of the exhaust outlets on the PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA- 31-350, and PA-31P aircraft exacerbates the problem. iii. Rod end bearing race damage (that may occur during maintenance/rigging activity) also results in landing gear system difficulties and/or premature rod end bearing replacements. AIRWORTHINESS BULLETIN AWB 32-005 Issue : 1 Lubrication of Landing Gear – Piper Aircraft Date : 27 September 2005 Page 2 of 3 Piper Service Letter SL 755 acknowledges the problem and addresses it through periodic inspection, lubrication and replacement of landing gear parts. CASA reviewed the Piper Navajo Chieftain Service Manual and the latest revision of Service Letter (SL) 755. It was determined that the Service Manual compliance interval of 100 hours for inspection / lubrication of the MLG down- lock assembly pivot needed revision to account for harsher Australian operational environment, where landing gear parts are more prone to dust contamination in comparison to other geographical locations. 3. Recommendation In order to address the safety risk associated with MLG failure to lock down, CASA recommends compliance with Piper Service Letter (SL) 755 and inspection / lubrication of the landing gear lock actuator rod and rod-end bearing assemblies including the down-lock latch and pivot bolt, every 50 hours plus / minus 5 hours and whenever landing gear and wheel areas have been washed, as per provisions of Part 1 of Piper SL 755 – latest revision. Ensure that the lubricant used is approved for the purpose, and is the most appropriate for the operating environment. 3.1 Summary Inspection intervals of 100 hours for inspection and lubrication of Piper PA-31 series and PA-42 series aircraft landing gear are inadequate for some Australian operating conditions. Failure to comply with the recommendations of this AWB may result in difficulties in operation of the landing gear system. 3.2 Service Difficulty Reporting Program All events related to landing gear failure or any other defects in the aircraft should be reported to CASA on the Service Difficulty Reporting (SDR) program available on the CASA website http://casa.gov.au/airworth/sdr/index.htm In submitting such SDRs, please include as much detail as possible. One or more photographs of the affected components are particularly valuable. AIRWORTHINESS BULLETIN AWB 32-005 Issue : 1 Lubrication of Landing Gear – Piper Aircraft Date : 27 September 2005 Page 3 of 3 4. Enquiries Enquiries with regard to the content of this Airworthiness Bulletins should be made via the direct link e-mail address: AirworthinessBulletin@casa.gov.au Or in writing, to: Manufacturing, Certification and New Technologies Office, GPO Box 2005, Canberra, ACT, 2601
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