I have just replaced the actuator attachment tabs on both my main gear over centre links (and I did receive the SB from Lancair BTW). Mine had not failed, but the cracks were there and ground retract tests showed that the actuator bodies were hard up against the tabs with the gear retracted.
Having noticed the grooves on the actuator bodies (both sides), and had originally thought that the failure mode was a geometry problem – i.e. the actuator bodies were binding on the tabs and causing serious stresses on the tabs leading to their progressive failure. HOWEVER – I went back to my original construction log pics, and found pics of the gear retracted – these were taken before the wing skin was fitted, so I had a clear shots of the tabs; the actuator bodies were not at that time touching the tabs. So, I can only conclude that the tabs progressively deformed under operational loads. In my case, the gear had been through around 80 cycles – the tabs had also twisted about 10 - 15 degrees ; I already had the spherical bearings installed, otherwise I guess some other damage would have occurred and / or the tabs would have failed earlier.
Regards,
John
John N G Smith
Tel / fax: +61-8-9385-8891
Mobile: +61-409-372-975
Email: john@jjts.net.au
Alan
there are 2 marks on the actuator where it touched the white brackets.
Did this happen before or after it broke?
Look on the other side if you can find this 2 marks!
If you find them as well, then you have to change something in the geometry of the actuator - gear assembly.
Maybe you can send some more pics as I have a 360.
Christian
Am 26.03.2012 um 14:12 schrieb Lynn Farnsworth:
I received this series of emails from the Sport Air Racing League concerning a problem one of the Legacy pilots had recently. I thought some on the LML might be interested.
Lynn
Subject: Fwd: [SARL-Racers] Lancair Gear Inspection
Here's a bit more......
Linda
From: "Alan Crawford"
Date: March 25, 2012 11:36:18 AM CDT
>
Subject: Re: [SARL-Racers] Lancair Gear Inspection
Ernie .... I AM a registered owner and I EXPECT MORE from Lancair ..... I talked to Lancair at length Friday and they have done nothing to alert the owners. When I HAD TO PAY LANCAIR to register as an owner (what good was that???) ... They took my $$$$ MONEY, name, email and physical address from this process. In other words they have me and all registered owners in a data base ... THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM (see picture)... It would have been nothing to send an email out on this OR any problem .... I can tell you Glasair does this when there is a problem and does an excellent process of keeping their owners informed. I have talked to several other Legacy owners since Friday and they only found out about it through word of mouth!!!!! One person landed and a person walked up to him and asked him if he had fixed his yet??? ... that was the first he had heard about this problem ..... This is PURE BS!!!!
I have a Baron, two Cessna's and a Piper PA11 ... anytime there is a problem, Alert, or Service Bulletin .... I get an email followed by a "Hard Copy" in the mail to insure everyone is aware of the problem ...
I will continue my conversation with Lancair Monday with higher ups and hope to convince them to fix this communication problem they seem to have .... In the words of another Legacy owner I contacted .... "I don't feel the Love from Lancair right now!!!" .....
Ernie, looking forward to flying with you and getting ready for Rookie School this spring ... I have downloaded the application and will be sending it in this week .... hope you have time in the next couple of months to do some flying ...
Blue Skies ... Alan .. Race 2