Landing Gear Failure

    Landing gears come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on the aircraft but all serve the same principle purpose. An aircrafts landing gear is one of the most important component for the functionality of flight. Without a landing gear an aircraft cannot takeoff of land properly and safely. There are two main types of landing gears, retractable and fixed landing gears. A fixed landing gear will remain or stay extended during flight while a retractable landing gear is actuated by the pilot using a landing gear handle or switch sending an electrical current to activate the hydraulic pump that extends and retracts the landing gears (2016, September 9).

    There are some indicators of a faulty landing gear system. The most common indicator is in most aircraft cockpits there is a landing gear indicator light. From my several years working along with the A-10, there is a relatively small light panel that indicates the status of the main landing gear, left and right landing gears. When the landing gears are extended the light will illuminate green to its corresponding gear. While retracted the lights will not illuminate at all. Meanwhile, if the pilot actuates the landing gear handle and the landing gears do not extend then the pilot will get a fault code on his Multiple Functional Color Display. 

    Some causes of a failure in a retractable landing gear system might be a hydraulic pump burning out or a possible short in the electrical system from the landing gear handle or switch to the hydraulic pump component. While working along side the A-10, I have personally seen two aircraft crash due to failure of the landing gear. The first incident was unconventional and not related to any type of commercial aircraft related problem but it was caused by the landing gear strut and wiring breaking/exploding. This was a result of a 30mm round exploding while inside the aircraft causing damage to the landing gear while it was retracted inside the aircraft. Because the pilot only had two serviceable rear landing gears and no front/main, he was forced to belly land the aircraft with all landing gears retracted. The second incident was a problem with the landing gear indicators. In the cockpit, the pilot had green indicators stating that all three gears were extended, but when the aircraft touched down, the right landing gear retracted resulting in the aircraft running off the runway.  

    The best way to mitigate landing gear failures is to insure proper preflight and post-flight inspections. Theses are inspections that are done on all aircraft components and equipment before and after every flight.  

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References

Aircraft Systems - 04 - Landing Gear. (2016, September 9). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skv6CgCY3vM&list=PLzW-Ub1FWeZzdOHQhNK0U0Ci1a-VRH8IO&index=36

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Retrieved https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/