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Is my nose gear bent?

C

Coryb

Member
I had a landing this morning that ended up with bouncing and hitting my wheel pants. I landed with the main gear first, but my front gear was soon after. I didn't feel like I was behind the plane in any way. I obviously did something wrong. I ended up doing a go-around and landed at my home airport. I knew I hit the front gear at some point, so I performed a soft field landing, keeping the nose gear up for a loooonnng time. On inspection, my wheel pants were scraped and cracked. I took this picture. could you tell me if you think the nose gear is bent? To me, the angle looks a little aft.front gear.jpg
 
Thanks. I'll take a look at the gear without the fairing. I do need a new tire. Do you have a good source for the Michelin Pilots?
 
Another check for the nose gear strut is to verify that the axle for the fork is vertical to a flat horizontal surface. This can be measured with a square against the front of the fork and the floor. In the photo it is not clear if the fork is perfectly vertical, so best to measure and check.
In more severe cases of deformed nose gear legs the "bend is in the bend" i.e. the wheel is displaced backward and up.
In this case, if the wheel pants were scraped and cracked from contact with the runway, then that implies that either the tire deformed (more likely to occur if it is was under-inflated) or the gear leg flexed enough for the nose pant to touch the ground.
I think it's good practice to treat every take-off and landing (and taxiing) with an -A model as soft-field as it protects the nose gear.
 
Put a level vertically on the front of the yoke. It should be close to vertical.

No major manufacturer, to my knowledge, makes a tire for the nosewheel.
 
PaulvS said:
I think it's good practice to treat every take-off and landing (and taxiing) with an -A model as soft-field as it protects the nose gear.
Click to expand...
Vans used to say that the nosewheel should be used like the kick-stand on a bicycle - only to be used for parking and when you are too slow to keep it off the ground.
 
To me it looks like the front is bent back like the wheel was about to roll up. I would check that very carefully. Maybe it is the angle of the picture but it looks over bent to me.
 
In this case, it's a good thing you have the newer style, higher-clearance nose fork and gear leg, which is supposed to prevent it from catching and flipping the plane over. Seems okay, but pulling that fiberglass leg faring off and checking the leg for any bending might be a good idea. I never upgraded to the newer style (early 9A model), but always keep that nose held-off during take-off and landing. If you bounce, don't force it back down.
 
RV 6/7/9 legacy gear legs should be same or similar. Attached is RV6 plan diagram which shows bend should be 51.5 degrees.)you could confirm this angle by contacting Langair, the leg mfgr)
- Jack the front off the ground
- remove fiberglass leg fairing
- put straight edge along top face of gear leg, should be straight
- insure wheel is pointing straight forward, measure angle of forward face of nose wheel fork
- determine CENTRELINE ANGLE of gear leg by measuring top & bottom edge angles, determine the average angle (remember the gear leg is a tapered shaft)
- the swivel bend should be 51.5 degrees different.
IMG_2596.jpeg
 
My observation is Why don't we see a picture of the nose gear with the fairing off? Side and front. It only takes a few seconds to remove it. All the rest is mute speculation. I have a nose gear plane and have had a few less than stellar landings. I also have Allan's possible helper.
BUT my usefulness and suggestions are useless FIXIT
 
If, in fact, your nose gear leg is bent, the link below is the manufacture in Oregon (Langaire Aircraft Parts, LLC) who makes Vans Aircraft round landing gear legs. They will also straighten or modify gear legs if you send it to them. I would call them and have a talk with these guys first--good people! (y):cool:(y)

www.langaire.com

Experimental Aircraft Gear Legs | Langaire Machining

Custom aircraft gear legs and bent gear leg repair done in-shop. Langaire can match drill your aircraft legs.
www.langaire.com www.langaire.com
 
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RV-9erA said:
If, in fact, your nose gear leg is bent, the link below is the manufacture in Oregon (Langaire Aircraft Parts, LLC) who makes Vans Aircraft round landing gear legs. They will also straighten or modify gear legs if you send it to them. I would call them and have a talk with these guys first--good people! (y):cool:(y)

www.langaire.com

Experimental Aircraft Gear Legs | Langaire Machining

Custom aircraft gear legs and bent gear leg repair done in-shop. Langaire can match drill your aircraft legs.
www.langaire.com www.langaire.com
Click to expand...
 
Just purchased an Antisplat Nose Job kit. Very nice people to work with and my order was sent I believe that very day. I would definitely order from them again without hesitation. Installation was easy with no problems.
 
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