Most hoses are recommended to be replaced every 10 years on part 91 and on Part 135 aircraft the interval is every 5 years. By wrapping the outer covering of a hose with tape because it is cracked is an example of deferred maintenance. The only reason I know to wrap a cracked hose is for a ferry flight to a location where proper maintenance can be performed which I probably would not do because tape will not prevent the hose from leaking. The only other reasons to wrap a hose with tape is to be cheap or lazy. Not to prevent chafing, that's what Adel clamps are for. You have got 16 good years out of these hoses so go ahead and do the right thing and replace them with NEW ones.
That is just plain bad information to wrap a cracked hose thinking you will "get by" and save money or do it later. Maybe you won't get by and maybe your gear wont come down when you want it to. Hoses don't really cost much money especially compared to gear ups and funerals.
And yes I do know what I am talking about. I have been a professional AIRCRAFT Mechanic for over 25 and that includes 4 years USAF crew chief and Aero Repair Shop mechanic.
I have also recovered a Cessna Cardinal RG that bellied in on the KSAV airport in 1994 because the gear would not come down. Yes you guessed correctly the nose gear actuator hyd hose blew out the end of it's fitting and it lost all of its hyd fluid. The hand pump doesn't work very well when the hose is disconnected from the actuator.
I'm sorry to rant but come on and let's get into the proper mind set and think about what we are doing and encouraging other people to do with their aircraft.
Sorry to step on some toes here or hurt feelings/egos, but I just could not sit by and watch this stupidity go on.
And by the way, the military replaces hoses on time intervals. They do not wrap them in tape in order to return the hose to normal service.
I don't want anyone reading this to get hurt or damage their airplane from deferred maintenance.
Sincerely,
Swaid Rahn
Fixnflyr
On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 3:36 PM, George and Shirley Shattuck <gwsms2@plantationcable.net> wrote:
Very timely, for me, are recent postings regarding hydraulic hoses.
After 16 years, the outer rubber coating on my hoses is starting to crack and, on many of my hoses, is actually breaking off, revealing the white woven material. I have been watching this occur with some concern.
The question is: Is this an immediate safety concern? Is there increased chances of a hose failure, and if so, how big a concern is it. In other words, should the airplane be immediately grounded until I fabricate new hoses?
These questions are for an experienced hydraulics person, and not for emotional speculation by those seeking perfection.
George Shattuck
LNC2, 1350 flight hours
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Swaid L. Rahn
Indigo Aviation, Inc.
940 Mock Road
Springfield, Ga. 31329
Cell 912.655.0966
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