Detailed inspections and maintenance are required for all aircraft to keep them in airworthy condition. For Challenger landing gear specifically, it’s important to stay up to date on timely inspections and corrosion prevention.
In this article, we’re going to cover common wear and damage that occurs on Challenger landing gear, and how our team can help.
Anatomy of Challenger Aircraft Landing Gear
For a Challenger aircraft, the landing gear consists of:
- Nose Landing Gear
- Nose Landing Gear Drag Braces
- Nose Landing Gear Retract Actuators
- Main Landing Gear
- Main Landing Gear Side Stay Actuators
- Brake Assemblies
- Wheel Assemblies
There is a main gear and a nose gear; the main landing gear supports most of the aircraft’s weight and is located under the wings/fuselage. The nose landing gear is at the front and provides steering. It’s generally lighter and does not have brakes, as well as uses a shock strut to absorb impact during taxiing and landing.
Common Wear Points on Challenger Aircraft Landing Gear
Your landing gear takes a lot of abuse, so it’s important to know the common wear points, so you know when it’s time for maintenance.
Here are the most common wear points on a Challenger aircraft landing gear:
Shock struts:
Frequent issues include seal degradation, attach point wear, and damaged protective coatings.
Bushings and bearings:
Wear occurs from constant extension/retraction cycles.
Tires and wheels:
Tread wear, sidewall cracking, and bead damage are common due to repeated high-speed landings.
Brakes:
Subject to heat stress, rotor/disc wear, and hydraulic seal fatigue.
Hydraulic lines and fittings:
Chafing, leaks, and corrosion are typical issues.
Actuators:
Pins, lugs, and joints develop wear and looseness over time.
Corrosion-prone areas:
Exposure to moisture, de-icing fluids, and runway contaminants often leads to corrosion.
Inspection/Restoration Intervals for Challenger 300, 350, 604, 605, and 650 Series Aircraft
For a Challenger 300 or 600 series aircraft, except the 601, detailed inspection is due at the first 96-month mark and restoration at the first 192-month mark. After the initial 192-month restoration, restoration is due again every 96 months. For Challenger 601, the landing gear is due for a detailed inspection at the first 60-month mark. When the aircraft gets to the 120-month mark, it is due for restoration.
Here are important inspection / restoration intervals for Challenger 300, 350, 601, 604, 605, and 650 series aircraft:
96-month detailed inspection
192-month restoration (overhaul)
Reoccurring restoration (overhaul) due each 96 months following the initial 192-month restoration
And for Challenger 601 aircraft:
Reoccurring 60-month detailed inspection
Reoccurring 120-month restoration (overhaul)
Detailed inspections are mainly visual with minor disassembly required. We focus our inspection on high corrosion/wear areas throughout the landing gear.
During a restoration/overhaul, the landing gear is completely disassembled and stripped down to bare metal. We perform visual, dimensional and nondestructive inspections to locate any discrepancies with the landing gear.
Check out our article detailing the complete process behind landing gear restoration.
AAI Provides Maintenance and Overhaul Services on Challenger 300 and 600 Series Aircraft
No task is too small when maintaining your aircraft components in a condition fit for flight.
Detailed, thorough, and expert work is required to get the job done the right way. At AAI, we know your ultimate goal is to get your plane fixed so you can fly. That’s why we go above and beyond to help you avoid extra costs by creating repairs and manufacturing the parts on your aircraft that are prone to corrosion and wear, like landing gear components.
Challenger maintenance and overhaul requires quick turnaround times. You don’t want a hangar full of planes propped up on jacks, creating a traffic jam for everyone trying to maneuver around them. AAI completes landing gear inspections and repairs in-house so that parts get turned around quickly and you can return your aircraft to normal operation.
Do you have questions about AAI’s process or available parts? Contact us for more information and be sure to sign up for our Frequent Flyers Email Newsletter to get our articles, updates about industry events, and links to our favorite online content delivered right to your inbox every month.