lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Simple nose gear gas strut test:

At a safe altitude, slow the plane to your gear extension speed, mine is 122 kt.

With the gear pump breaker pulled, open the dump valve.

Very gradually slow the plane and note the IAS where the nose gear light comes on. Save this number.

As the nose strut loses pressure over time, the "down speed" will gradually get lower. On my plane, it was

around 80 kt with the old strut and 105 kt with a new strut.

Bob Belshe
Moraga, CA
Lancair 235/320
http://home.comcast.net/~rbelshe/

From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Dominic V. Crain
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 4:51 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Gear Free Fall

I’d like to draw on the opinion of listers regarding LNC2 gear free fall problem.

The main gear is slow to free fall, and on the jacks (most likely in the air) the RMG won’t lock in.

Slight pressure on the wheel locks it in, which is handy if one wing walks upside down.

Disconnected the actuator strut and it drops like a beauty and snaps into position.

I doubt the actuator struts are the problem because both main gear have exhibited the same problem at the same time. The LMG does eventually lock down on the jacks.

One thing I’ve noticed is the NG is slower to lock down under normal extension than it usually does. Until recently, it was always the first, and quick to lock down. Under free fall the gas strut dives the NG down and locks as it should quite quickly.

Wondered if anyone might have a trouble shooting sequence I can draw upon.

Thanks

Dom Crain

VH-CZJ