DVI Aviation’s Landing Gear Experts have investigated all types of landing gear failures ranging from landing gears that have failed to extent, to landing gears collapsing during the landing roll, to landing gears that fail to retract, to partial failures such as only the main gear operating. DVI’s Aircraft Landing Gear Experts understand how to investigate and systematically determine the cause of a landing gear anomaly. Some of the more common mechanically related causes for landing gear failures include:
- Improper rigging
- Improper repairs or maintenance
- Parts worn beyond their allowable service limits
- Improper installation of parts
- Improperly secured parts
- Use of non-standard or unapproved parts
- Failure or fatigue of parts
- Rupture of hydraulic lines.
- Failure of electrical wire connections, relays, contactors, and/or actuators
- Malfunctions of warning systems
- Inoperative limit and safety switches,
- Uplocks failed to release
- Down locks failed to engage.
- Wheels jammed or hung up in wheel wells.
- Lack of lubrication
- Lack of hydraulic fluid
- Retraction of landing with tow bar still attached
In addition to mechanically or material related failures, DVI’s Aviation Human Factors Experts can assess possible Pilot Errors associated with a gear up landing. Some cockpit designs place the landing gear switch in close proximity to the lower portion of the instrument panel. Shorter pilots that adjust their seats closer to the controls have a reduced separation from their knees to the landing control switch. During the landing phase, pilots shift their feet to the top of the rudder pedals to apply the brakes and all too often they inadvertently bump the landing gear switch into the up position
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