Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

[Guest]

I have never recieved anything from the FAA about the landing gear struts have they in fact been sending bulletins to owners?

[flyguy]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Nothing here and all my addresses are up to date with those guys.
DC

[lfries]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

In previous thread there was an incident which brought to light the SB.
I believe that Forrest thought there wouldn't be an AD. But no guarantees.

[cvavon]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

here is the pdf of the bulletin Chuck

[Guest]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Sounds like the bulliten did not get mailed to all owners doesn't it?

My address is correct with them also.

They messed up the Champ spar AD in a similar way. Their search was not exhaustive and missed models that ended "-CONV" which is specified in the TCDS as a requirement when making a model change.

Maybe something similar happened here?

Thanks to all,

Dave

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Not mailed to owners. WE started a thread the day it came out. There are some confusing parts dealing with which TC's they apply too! Just inspect and take action if corrosion is suspected....

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

We might want to start a log of who has inspected and what they found. As much as I HATE to get the FAA involved, if we found a rash of bad struts we really SHOULD go out with a mandatory inspection and repair. I would just rather WE do it than to have it jammed down our throats.

Remember there are a lot of Taylorcrafts out there whose owners are NOT here. What about them? How would we feel if we found a problem and didn't let THEM know?

I would suggest everyone who inspects their struts send a message to a central location reporting their name, email, N number, SN, what they inspected and what they found (right and left).

Let's NOT post the results individually here so we can get a statistically significant sample before someone goes into "panic mode".

I am willing to let my old business email be used to gather the results. If you have inspected your struts send the above data to
[email protected]

I will compile the results and pass them to the Foundation.

Is that OK with you Forrest?

Hank

[jim cooper]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

"kicking the hornet's nest!"

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

I agree. Only reason I would "kick the hornets nest" (tell the FAA we have a real problem) is if we REALLY have a real problem. I would much rather be able to go to them when they question us and be able to say, "Well, let's see, the club has inspected "X" hundred gear legs and found "Y" missing the drain holes, ALL of which have now been added, "Z" with ANY evidence of corrosion and ZERO with any real damage".

Next I would hand them a list of the N numbers we inspected and ask them if they would rather contact the owners not in the club or would they like to give us the list of other planes and we would be glad to contact them. We could then let them know they may be getting a visit from the FAA without an inspection and invite them into the fold.

I know a lot of FAA types and the ones who are a problem for US would really be perfectly happy if we would do our own policing and just GO AWAY. We are as much of a pain to them as they can be to us. The FAA guys who work WITH us are great, but they are GA people. FAA is like anyplace else, good and bad people. I prefer to let the bad ones let us police ourselves and work with the good ones.

Hank

[Dennis Keels]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

If the FAA wants to check mine they were it is. I'am not vonluteering aything to the FEDS.

[N74DV]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

We did our SB inspection and drilling of holes last week. We found a small bit of rust powder and sand came out from the struts as soon as the holes were drilled. Tapping on them with a plastic mallet produced more. We tapped until it stopped. The total amount of rust dust came to a pile about 1/2" diameter and 1/8" high. I don't believe it to be enough to warrant replacement but we may elect for some NDI to get a better idea on the amount of corrosion present.

[Carrieve]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

I had a tie strut break many years ago landing on skis on Lake Superior. One hell of a ground loop on glare ice. I replaced both and now I check to make sure the hole is open and once a year I spray LPS-3 into the hole. And no, I have not received anything from the Feds.

[lfries]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Could be mistaken but I think they have stopped mailing out hard copies and expect us to register with airman services and sign up for e mail notification.

[flyguy]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Kinda hate to start this, but one of my gear struts was rusted almost through, about in the middle as I remember, and required repair. It was the one WITH the drain hole in the bottom.

The one WITHOUT a drain hole appears to be OK. Go figure.

Darryl

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Has a bulletin been sent from the FAA regarding landing gear struts?

Yes Hank I would appreciate it if you would compile the results: I have information from over the years that was relayed to the FAA on this subject in the past. Usually the tie strut swells out to a round shape if the water has not drained out. SOOOO ! If you owners would send your Inspection results or thoughts on this subject to Hank Jarrett at
[email protected] then it will be at arms length form the Foundation , OR send it to me at [email protected]
use as an example:

1946 BC12D , 4100 HRS TT , outside storage 50% of life ; Used 32 HRS last year, no corrosion found , holes cleaned out, LPS-2 sprayed inside, will do this each Annual.

thank u Hank , my comments are that if the Type Clubs can show a bit more self policing and work with the FAA it will be beneficial to both sides.
I think my conversations in the past with Andy McAnaul and other FAA inspectors have been a reason for proper issuance of Airworthiness Concers; Bulletins and AD's as needed. Lets face it , some good old boys have been signing stuff off without proper "Inspection".