AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2016 - 109

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TIPS FROM PIC

Servicing landing gear
BY CRAIG BROWN
AIRCRAFT OWNERS who hold at least a
private pilot certificate (or sport pilots
servicing Light Sport aircraft) are permitted under FAR Part 43 to perform
many preventive maintenance tasks on
aircraft they own. Typical hand tools,
some specialized tools and equipment,
and a place to perform the work are
required. Focusing on landing gear, owners may perform the following tasks:
Replacing elastic shock absorber
cords on landing gear. Typical small
hand tools may be used.
Servicing landing gear shock
struts by adding oil and air. Oleo strut
service must be done with the weight of
the aircraft off the gear being serviced.
Most general aviation aircraft use 5606
hydraulic fluid and nitrogen.
Servicing wheel bearings by cleaning and greasing. Messy, but easy. Use
bearing grease and a cleaning agent. Do
not spin dry bearings with compressed air.
Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the
reservoir. Usually 5606 hydraulic fluid.
Replacing wheels and skis where
no weight-and-balance computation
is involved. Tools are aircraft-specific.
Removal, installation, and repair
of landing gear tires. This requires jacking equipment, sockets and wrenches, a
bead breaker, a torque wrench, talcum
powder, and a compressed air supply.
Tires, however, are rarely repaired by
A&P mechanics, let alone owners.
I recommend having the service
manual in hand and previous experience,
such as assisting with an annual inspection. When a task is complete, endorse
the maintenance records with the work
done, date, aircraft time, certificate type
and number, and your signature. AOPA
Questions? Contact AOPA's Pilot

Information Center Monday through
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
time. 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672).

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2016
