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Emergency Gear Extension
After leveling off, reattempted to retract the gear and it came right up. Now I had 90 minutes to wonder if it would actually come down. Fortunately, it did with no issue. The plane is in annual now so the gear system will get a good lookover. I suspect one of the pressure switches still thought the plane was on the ground. Hope that is all it is.
Anyway, I was talking to my mechanic about it and he said one of his prior Comanche owners indicated that on an emergency gear down landing you have to hold the lever forward on landing to make sure the gear doesn't collapse due to vibration.
I don't ever recall seeing or hearing anyone discuss that as part of the emergency gear extension procedure. I have the Comanche DVD now and it made no mentionn of this. Once the gear goes into the overlock position I would think you would be fine. I don't like the idea of having to have one hand tied up holding the gear lever forward.
Any thoughts on this?
Richard Lanning- Posts: 65
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:08 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
Ed
- Ed Asmus
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:02 am
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
A bit scary the mechanic would suggest that. I like what Clifton does - even with their decades of Comanche experience, every annual starts checklist in the aircraft and engines running - everything is on the Piper checklist and a table with the Piper Service Manual and Parts Manual are on the table next to the plane after it gets to the hangar. In general if we can't find it in the Service Manual, the POH or Piper publication, we don't do it.
Suggest you go to one of the Comanche courses. http://www.comanchetraining.com/
When it comes to gear stuff. www comanchegear.com can't be beat. We are very lucky Matt has a 400 and the skills to help others.
Good luck to you.
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer ICS 08899
PA-39 #10 Texas
N3322G- ICS member
- Posts: 1911
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 1:58 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas area
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
I CPP is in my future when one is held in my area. In the interim, its OJT.
Richard Lanning- Posts: 65
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:08 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
Ditto the comments on NOT holding the emergency lever for all the reasons other's have stated. I recently completed the CPPP. Definitely worth doing, not only for the briefing / training itself but also for the interaction and discussion amongst the instructors and owners. There was a LOT of combined knowledge in the room at the CPPP I recently attended (the one at JYO last month) and I think I got the most out of the discussions and conversations.
One related thing that did come up in the CPPP discussion is that in an emergency gear extension situation you should land and taxi as gently as possible. The gear should not collapse if properly rigged and if the downlock springs are bungies are relatively fresh. Having completely rebuilt my gear piece by piece and rigged it I can tell you that is a very important "if". Keep in mind that having the transmission out of the equation means there is a very big important piece NOT helping ensure the gear stays down and in place.
Regarding your specific problem I'd strongly suggest getting a comanche gear expert look at your gear. Matt Kurke is in Naples, FL not far from you. I'd suggest seeking his advice. I'd also say that his gear wiring kits and microswitches are a very worthwhile investment. So is (IMHO) any investment in properly maintaing the landing gear system.
- Charles
Charles Schefer- Posts: 563
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
Beyond that, the key is to have someone inspect the system who really knows the system.
Kristin Winter- ICS member
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:21 pm
- Location: Northern California
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
If you have a gear down engagement that is incomplete or a light that goes out, you now have a bit more information to help make a decision.
If you get a chance during the annual gear swing do an emergency release. I managed that last week and it was very reassuring to release the catch and swing the gear by hand. It was also sobering how much force is required to flip that little red catch. I also discovered that my aircraft had the wrong placard riveted to the floor that described the procedure!
William Hughes- Posts: 97
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:23 pm
- Location: Saskatoon, SK
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
Kristin Winter- ICS member
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:21 pm
- Location: Northern California
Re: Emergency Gear Extension
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer ICS 08899
PA-39 #10 Texas
N3322G- ICS member
- Posts: 1911
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 1:58 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas area