Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-15
March 2, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you,
owners, or operators, of all serial numbers of Piper Aircraft, Inc.
(Piper) Models PA-34-200, PA-34-200T and PA-34-220T airplanes of an
airworthiness concern and the potential failure of the nose landing
gear to extend as a result of the bolt head becoming jammed against the
aft tube assembly-nose gear door actuation. This failure is due to a
hex-head bolt on the nose gear centering spring rod-end to the nose
gear strut, coming in contact with the nose gear door actuation aft
tube assembly. This action impedes/prevents the extension of the nose
gear assembly.
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition
that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Aviation Regulations (14CFR) part 39.
Background
This SAIB is a result of an incident on a Piper Model PA-34-200
airplane that occurred during an approach to land in which the nose
gear failed to extend. Post incident investigation revealed that the
hex-head bolt on nose gear centering spring had come in contact with
nose gear door actuation tube assembly. This action prevented the nose
gear assembly from exiting the wheel well area in normal operations and
during emergency procedures.
Piper had a similar problem several years ago which resulted in a
publication of Service Bulletin (SB) No. 893 dated October 11, 1988.
This SB recommended an inspection of the nose gear assembly to include
replacement of the hex-head bolt with a clevis bolt and washers to
prevent the nose gear failure. The Piper Model PA-34-220T airplane was
certified after SB 893 was published; however, it has the same nose
gear assembly. All S/N PA-34-220T aircraft should have the clevis head
bolt installed at the factory but they should also be included.
Recommendations
The purpose of this SAIB is to provide information to reduce the
possibility of failure to the nose gear. We recommend that you
incorporate Piper Service Bulletin No. 893, dated October 11, 1988,
which specifies inspecting the nose gear center spring assembly for
proper bolt (replace the hexhead bolt with a clevis bolt) along with
washer installations and proper alignment to centering bracket.
For Further Information Contact
Hector Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Central Region, Atlanta
Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix
Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349; phone (770) 703-6069; fax
(770) 703-6097; email: Hector.Hernandez@faa.gov