FAA Aviation Maintenance Alert #353

[N2255D]

Cessna: 120-337 ; Main Landing Gear Fatigue; ATA 3213
(The following alert originates from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office. It affects the following Cessna model aircraft: 120, 140, 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 336, and 337.) "The Wichita ACO (Aircraft Certification Office) conducted statistical analyses on SDR's (Service Difficulty Reports) and accident data from the NTSB (National Transportation and Safety Board). The analyses indicate wearout (fatigue failure) of the landing gear spring struts. The spring struts, axles, and associated hardware on the above aircraft need to be visually inspected at or before 1400 flight hours, and at 100-hour or during annual inspections, thereafter. The ACO further recommends the spring struts be inspected using magnetic particle or florescent dye-penetrant at or before 1400 flight hours, and at 100-hour or during annual inspections, thereafter. These inspections target corrosion, pitting, and cracking on gear springs - particularly on those airplanes having had skis installed and/or having been operated on rough, unimproved runways.

[blueldr]

See the "Sticky" above concerning this matter.

[mit]

Glad the FAA is so up on things we have known for years!

[GAHorn]

This topic is already the subject of a pre-existing message thread, as BluElder has already mentioned. A complete read of that thread might give a little background.

I forwarded our "official" position to the FAA Engineer in charge of the issue and apparently it had the desired effect.... no AD note.

[N2255D]

I just got it in an email from AMT. Guess that's what I get for posting after being up all night. Leads to brain farts.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Don't worry about it Walt, we're all farts sometimes. Oh I meant to say we all fart sometimes.

Shame of it is you broke our perfect record of never duplicating a thread topic.