Removing Landing Gear Channel

[smmilke]

I was wondering if anyone knows the exact purpose of the piece of steel channel that runs between the two main tubes on either gear leg. It is welded to the tubes just below the gear-fuselage attach points. I have uncovered gear legs and I am not sure if these pieces are for attaching fairings or if they serve some structural purpose. I can't think of a scenario in which they would carry any load other than when the legs are removed from the aircraft and being stored; I suppose the channel piece would prevent the two main tubes from being pulled or pushed relative to one another. Is this correct? Has anyone removed the pieces of channel without issue?

[Guest]

Re: Removing Landing Gear Channel

Hi,

I suspect that it is structural member and not just a fabric hanger.

It could carry a load when the gear is installed.

For example are you sure that the attach fittings on the longerons are capable of carrying the load that forces them apart when you make a hard landing? This channel could carry part or all of that load.

Or this; how do we know what the clearance is between the front of the forward gear fitting and the back side of the forward longeron fitting? Is there a gap there? Same question for the rear fitting. Without that channel those gaps will allow the gear main tubes to spread out at each landing or bump during taxi thereby raising concerns about fatigue in the structure of the gear "vee".

I bet there are other considerations as well.

Lastly I would say this; if you merely remove it because you have deemed it useless and not thru some proper and legal process then afterwards the a/c is not in a properly modified state and does not meet its type data. In that case an IA doing the annual who knows these airplanes will call it out as a discrepancy and make you put it back or replace the gear. Since we can't get drawing info for these airplanes you may end up replacing the gear since he may not be able to tell what exactly needs to go back.

Well I should have almost lastly above. I work on a lot of Aeronca gear and I see a lot of half baked, undocumented, just plain stupid modifications that somebody with 1/4 of the story made to "better" some landing gear. They usually result in damage and expense. Of course the expense part works out ok for me! .

I would just leave it there and not remove it.

Dave

p.s. I had formerly thought that the analogous part on Aeronca gear was merely a fabric hanger but no longer believe that to be true.

[TimHicks]

Re: Removing Landing Gear Channel

My '46 BC12-D has aluminum LG covers.
The covers are attached to the LG channels on my ship.

[NC36061]

Re: Removing Landing Gear Channel

If C.G. designed it that way, probably a good reason for it...