Wheel pant bracket failures

[ChrisConnor]

We have two P92's, and both have repeatedly broken wheel pant brackets. Seems to be about every 100 hours. Now grant it, we fly off of grass, and I doubt we would continue to fail brackets if we flew off hard surface. 

Does anyone else have this problem, and are there any fixes, tried or suggested?

[mackattack]

I also fly off turf runways in my Astore ... Welcome to the forum! I don't know if your issue is unique to the brackets on a P92 or not; I have not flown enough hours off the field (or enough take-off/landing cycles) to put myself in that position. Are you in a flight school environment?

Thanks again for joining the forum ... Hopefully someone can chime in with relevant experience...

Cheers!

[ChrisConnor]

Thanks for the welcome!

No, not a flight school environment. In my opinion, the bracket could have been designed better. I'll post a pic of a broken one on my next trip to the hangar. The nice thing is that Tecnam is stocking them in Sebring, so I can have one shipped to me in just a few days. I just hate having to do that approximately once a year.

[Cluemeister]

Should I ask how much they cost? And how many do you replace?

[ChrisConnor]

I may be wrong, but I believe they cost about $75 each. I've replaced two on a plane with 300 hours, and two on my buddy's plane at about the same rate. One side will fail, then the other.

[Cluemeister]

I wonder if there is a tundra wheel pant bracket available? I know the Tecnams land on grass in Europe regularly.

[ChrisConnor]

The thinnest part of the bracket you can see is jagged. That's where it bends around the spring gear. There's a another piece not shown because it's still attached to the aircraft. It looks as if that area could be wider without contacting the caliper. I think it's a mod Tecnam should do. BTW- They are both currently broken on one of our P92's. 

[geobuff]

My Astore has 300 hours. My nose wheel fiberglass cover keeps cracking. The first time I took it into a 'shop' and they charged me $750 to repair. MUCH to expensive. Now I just purchase a $20 fiberglass kit from ACE and repair it myself. I am getting better at fiberglassing. This last round is holding up well. Need multiple layers of glass inside and out.

So far no broken brackets.

[ChrisConnor]

On the P92's we've had some glass issues on the mains, and have had to apply a little extra fiber glass too. That actually was the older of the two, and at one time was used by a flight school.

As far as the brackets, our A&P has kicked around the idea of welding a doubler to the weak spot, but it's still in the 'talking about it' stage at the moment.

[cole505]

Hi Guys,

Yes, my left wheel pant bracket cracked it was welded an is holding up well.....

Ray😎🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻✈️🐾

[cole505]

Hi Guys,

Just repaired my Rt. Wheel-pant bracket both are holding up well...😊🐾🐾😎✈🇺🇸👍🏻

[geobuff]

The problem with replacing the pants is you get "generic" pants, with no holes drilled and parts of the fiberglass have to be carved out to fit the specifics of your wheel. I know because I purchased new ones and have spend many weeks figuring put how to determine all the hole positions AND getting all the screw receptors pop-rivited into place (which you have to order from Aircraft Spruce). A real nightmare. And of course it must be painted.

I usually fiberglass my old one, which I have done many times, as I have cracked it many times. Ultimately I will have to put on the "new" one which I have spent months getting correct and painted.

OH, what did they do for $750. Exactly the same thing I have done myself with my $20 fiberglass repair kit. They probably spend several hours working it, and at $100+ per hour, that adds up. Yes, their exorbitant price also included painting.

[TiPi]

I had the same problem on my P92.
My fix: I removed both main wheel pants, incl brackets and added a "hub cap" out of 1mm ply to the outside of the rim (3 threaded bolt holes in the rim already).
The result: 3.5kg lighter and about 2kts faster
Unintentional (minor) benefit: when you fold the gear back under the plane, there is no wheel pant to get damaged

[Flocker]

Jul 16, 2018 11:57:43 GMT TiPi said:

Unintentional (minor) benefit: when you fold the gear back under the plane, there is no wheel pant to get damaged

What's the story behind this pic!? 

[TiPi]

hit a rabbit hole while taxiing to the parking area, gear leg attach points failed and the gear leg folded back.