CESSNA 210 FRONT STRUT

dJm7490

I JUST HAD A PROBLEM THAT BROTHERED ME AND COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
THE FRONT STRUT JUST COLAPSED WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON IT. I WAS LUCKY
BECAUSE I HAD THE 300 LBS OF WEIGHT STILL TIED TO THE REAR TIE DOWN POINT
SO THE PROP AND MOTOR DID NOT HIT THE FLOOR.

MY QUESTION IS, IF THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IS LOST AFTER THE FRONT STRUT
IS IN THE DOWN POSITION, DOES THE FRONT STRUT LOOSE ITS ABILITY TO STILL
KEEP THE LOCK DOWN POSITION.

Scott Sherer

I have sent this to our association A&P, Erich Rempert for his comments. Please stand by.

dJm7490

Thanks - I will be standing by for an answer.
Dan

Scott Sherer

Here's a response from our A&P:

Scott,

Wanted to talk to a colleague before replying...

So, those actuators need hydraulic pressure in the "UP" direction to disengage the internal down lock. Once they are Locked, they cannot unlock unless pressure is applied to do so.

The manuals have no parts breakdown of the guts of these actuators and as such if any issue is suspected with the actuator or its lock the actuator needs to be replaced or overhauled.

I do not know who does that type of work, I'm sure Cessna could point you in the right direction or perhaps call McFarlane?

Were you trying to pump the aft gear doors open when this happened? That's the only thing I can think of to cause this type of situation besides a bad actuator...

~Erich Rempert, IA Consultant

dJm7490

Thanks for the reply. This aircraft has Uvalde Door mod