American General AA-5A Cheetah
Debonded Nose Landing Gear Strut
The nose landing gear strut debonded at the nose fork bearing spindle. Spindle and strut are bonded via a hot-bond agent while in an autoclave. Suspect debonding occurred due to unreported hard landings and extreme stress due to improper ground handling.
Part total time: 3081.0 hours
Beechcraft G36 Bonanza
Misaligned Nosewheel Strut
During a landing gear retraction test, it was noted that the nose wheel assembly would contact the right nose gear door’s aft hinge during the landing gear cycle. It was also noted that the nose wheel assembly would contact the nose wheel well structure when fully retracted. Precision measurements determined that the nose strut to aircraft structure attach points were misaligned.
Part total time: 124.0 hours
Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
Damaged Inner Nose Strut
During routine inspection, the nose gear oleo strut was disassembled for O-ring replacement. The inner strut tube (p/n 07436311) was found to have damaged retaining pins, allowing lower part of the tube to work loose from its upper part. The only way to find this type of damage is to completely disassemble the nose strut.
Part total time: 1514.0 hours
Cessna 182
Worn Strut Casting
During engine and engine mount change, the air/oil separator breather tube was removed from the firewall. The breather tube had been routed so that it was touching the starboard side of the lower nose gear casting, causing wear. The manufacturer considered this part to be unserviceable, and it was removed and replaced. Suggest breather tube be relocated to facilitate inspection.
Part total time: 2051.1 hours
Cessna 310I
Deflated Nose Landing Gear Strut
On retracting landing gear after routine takeoff, a loud bang was heard. The airplane was landed without incident. The nose strut had deflated during taxi as the preflight inspection determined strut to be properly inflated. As a result of the deflated strut, the nose gear entered the wheel well improperly and caused damage.
Part total time: Unknown
Piper PA-44-180 Seminole
Cracked MLG Strut Housing
The left main landing gear strut failed during the takeoff roll, resulting in the gear collapsing. Inspection revealed an existing crack starting from the bolt hole that attaches the strut to the wheel housing. This aircraft is used for flight training and probably has experienced hard landings on many occasions.
Part total time: 1468.0 hours
