Main Landing Gear Drag Link Bolt

1 FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Main Landing Gear – Drag Link Bolt SAIB: CE-17-08 Date: February 21, 2017 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners or operators of Piper Aircraft Inc. (Piper) Models PA-23-150, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, and PA-23-250 airplanes about a potential airworthiness concern regarding a failure of the main landing gear drag link bolt, which can cause the main gear to collapse. Fatigue cracking can develop at the midpoint of the bolt shank, which can result in bolt failure and subsequent main gear collapse.

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-23-250 airplane where the right main landing gear collapsed during landing. The investigation revealed that the right main landing gear drag link center attach bolt had sheared in the center of the bolt shank due to fatigue.

Recommendations

We recommend that you incorporate Piper Service Bulletin No. 1299, dated January 6, 2017, which recommends periodic replacement of main landing gear drag link bolt and the inspection of the mating bushings.

For Further Information Contact

Hector Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Central Region, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone (404) 474-5587; fax (404) 474-5606; email: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

Piper Aircraft Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960; website: http://www.piper.com/.