I suffered a gear collapse in my LS-1f on a slightly bumpy landing a few years
back. No damage except some minor scrapes on the belly since I landed in grass.
Chip Bearden helped me pull the gas strut out and test it (thanks Chip!) It seemed within spec; 90 lbs to compress. So we reinstalled it and I chalked the
failure up to maybe dirt preventing an overcenter or maybe a funny harmonic in
a landing bounce.
A few months later the gear again collapsed during landing while a friend was landing the ship. This time the damage was more extensive requiring a trip to Paul Weiden at Keystone G-port. The failed gas strut was now down to about 50 lbs to compress. Paul installed a new strut, cleaned up the glass damage, and I
was back in buisness. Since then I have had no problem w/ gear collapse.
I did follow-up with some research on strut failures for other LS ships. It seems that the gas strut starts to fail after about 6 to 8 years of use. My thoughts are to just replace the strut with a new one every 3 years. They are inexpensive enough and available (thanks Mike Adams!) This fall will be 3 years
from the last replacement so Paul, I'll be calling you to get on your schedule!
BTW, the strut is stowed and spends the vast majority of its life in the worst
possible position; upside down (no oil on the seal) and compressed.
Danny Brotto
On Thursday, June 11, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, DBrotto wrote:
I suffered a gear collapse in my LS-1f on a slightly bumpy landing a few years
back. No damage except some minor scrapes on the belly since I landed in grass.
Chip Bearden helped me pull the gas strut out and test it (thanks Chip!) It
seemed within spec; 90 lbs to compress. So we reinstalled it and I chalked the
failure up to maybe dirt preventing an overcenter or maybe a funny harmonic in
a landing bounce.
A few months later the gear again collapsed during landing while a friend was
landing the ship. This time the damage was more extensive requiring a trip to
Paul Weiden at Keystone G-port. The failed gas strut was now down to about 50
lbs to compress. Paul installed a new strut, cleaned up the glass damage, and I
was back in buisness. Since then I have had no problem w/ gear collapse.
I did follow-up with some research on strut failures for other LS ships. It
seems that the gas strut starts to fail after about 6 to 8 years of use. My
thoughts are to just replace the strut with a new one every 3 years. They are
inexpensive enough and available (thanks Mike Adams!) This fall will be 3 years
from the last replacement so Paul, I'll be calling you to get on your schedule!
BTW, the strut is stowed and spends the vast majority of its life in the worst
possible position; upside down (no oil on the seal) and compressed.
Danny Brotto
Can you put me in touch with Mike Adams?
** To reply in e-mail, remove ".nubqih" from address **
Last week (monday, 1st of June), after a flight lasting over 3 hours,
I landed in our club (WBAC) ls-4a (PH-901). Just a normal landing, not
hard or anything like that. However, shortly after landing (ca 1-2 sec.)
the mail wheel collapsed back onto the fuselage. The problem is that
the wheel-handle was still in the lock. First was thought, that the gas -strut which keeps the landing-gear locked, was broken. After measurments
, it was found that it was still in operating limits.
So, does anybody have a clue what could be the problem?
Sander Holthaus
Roosendaal, The Netherlands
email: san...@roosendaal.demon.nl
ICQ: 13577569, Sander
--
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:35:07 AM UTC-7, Jon Stallman wrote:
On Thursday, June 11, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, DBrotto wrote:Mike Adams
I suffered a gear collapse in my LS-1f on a slightly bumpy landing a few years
back. No damage except some minor scrapes on the belly since I landed in grass.
Chip Bearden helped me pull the gas strut out and test it (thanks Chip!) It
seemed within spec; 90 lbs to compress. So we reinstalled it and I chalked the
failure up to maybe dirt preventing an overcenter or maybe a funny harmonic in
a landing bounce.
A few months later the gear again collapsed during landing while a friend was
landing the ship. This time the damage was more extensive requiring a trip to
Paul Weiden at Keystone G-port. The failed gas strut was now down to about 50
lbs to compress. Paul installed a new strut, cleaned up the glass damage, and I
was back in buisness. Since then I have had no problem w/ gear collapse. I did follow-up with some research on strut failures for other LS ships. It
seems that the gas strut starts to fail after about 6 to 8 years of use. My
thoughts are to just replace the strut with a new one every 3 years. They are
inexpensive enough and available (thanks Mike Adams!) This fall will be 3 years
from the last replacement so Paul, I'll be calling you to get on your schedule!
BTW, the strut is stowed and spends the vast majority of its life in the worst
possible position; upside down (no oil on the seal) and compressed. Danny Brotto
Can you put me in touch with Mike Adams?Mike Adams has gone to meet his maker! I believe Chris Nix is the source of LS parts in the US?
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 12:04:00 PM UTC-6, John Sinclair wrote:
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:35:07 AM UTC-7, Jon Stallman wrote:
On Thursday, June 11, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, DBrotto wrote:Mike Adams
I suffered a gear collapse in my LS-1f on a slightly bumpy landing a few years
back. No damage except some minor scrapes on the belly since I landed in grass.
Chip Bearden helped me pull the gas strut out and test it (thanks Chip!) It
seemed within spec; 90 lbs to compress. So we reinstalled it and I chalked the
failure up to maybe dirt preventing an overcenter or maybe a funny harmonic in
a landing bounce.
A few months later the gear again collapsed during landing while a friend was
landing the ship. This time the damage was more extensive requiring a trip to
Paul Weiden at Keystone G-port. The failed gas strut was now down to about 50
lbs to compress. Paul installed a new strut, cleaned up the glass damage, and I
was back in buisness. Since then I have had no problem w/ gear collapse.
I did follow-up with some research on strut failures for other LS ships. It
seems that the gas strut starts to fail after about 6 to 8 years of use. My
thoughts are to just replace the strut with a new one every 3 years. They are
inexpensive enough and available (thanks Mike Adams!) This fall will be 3 years
from the last replacement so Paul, I'll be calling you to get on your schedule!
BTW, the strut is stowed and spends the vast majority of its life in the worst
possible position; upside down (no oil on the seal) and compressed. Danny Brotto
Chris Klix has retired AFAIKCan you put me in touch with Mike Adams?Mike Adams has gone to meet his maker! I believe Chris Nix is the source of LS parts in the US?
I could use one of these struts for a LS3a; any ideas?
Nick
T
The gas strut on LS3/LS4 and retrofitted LS1-f is a Stabilus Lift-o-Mat, 400N, Part no. 044708. In Europe, they are available at a few online shops. Despite the service contract, DG charges their customers a premium for spare parts over here.
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 8:50:26 AM UTC-4, Christoph Barniske wrote:t have enough airspeed to take off so it slid along the paved runway. The bottom of the glider got flattened out. the CG Hook Tost release got filed away enough that the rope broke.
The gas strut on LS3/LS4 and retrofitted LS1-f is a Stabilus Lift-o-Mat, 400N, Part no. 044708. In Europe, they are available at a few online shops. Despite the service contract, DG charges their customers a premium for spare parts over here.
I once witnessed a gear-up *takeoff* in an LS-4, when that little gas strut gave out. Apparently the LS-4 hit a bump along the takeoff path, it was enough to cause the over-center cylinder to give out. This caused the gear to retract. The glider didn'
What a story for the bar with the glider buddies: "You did a gear up landing? Well that's nothing! Mario over here did a gear up *takeoff* !"
On 3/22/2023 9:28 AM, Piet Barber wrote:t have enough airspeed to take off so it slid along the paved runway. The bottom of the glider got flattened out. the CG Hook Tost release got filed away enough that the rope broke.
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 8:50:26 AM UTC-4, Christoph Barniske wrote:
The gas strut on LS3/LS4 and retrofitted LS1-f is a Stabilus Lift-o-Mat, 400N, Part no. 044708. In Europe, they are available at a few online shops. Despite the service contract, DG charges their customers a premium for spare parts over here.
I once witnessed a gear-up *takeoff* in an LS-4, when that little gas strut gave out. Apparently the LS-4 hit a bump along the takeoff path, it was enough to cause the over-center cylinder to give out. This caused the gear to retract. The glider didn'
What a story for the bar with the glider buddies: "You did a gear up landing? Well that's nothing! Mario over here did a gear up *takeoff* !"
I once had a normal takeoff, but when I landed the tire was completely
flat. Very short rollout, completely unexpected, stranded in the middle
of the runway. Must have hit a sharp object in the air, eh?
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 8:50:26 AM UTC-4, Christoph Barniske wrote:have enough airspeed to take off so it slid along the paved runway. The bottom of the glider got flattened out. the CG Hook Tost release got filed away enough that the rope broke.
The gas strut on LS3/LS4 and retrofitted LS1-f is a Stabilus Lift-o-Mat, 400N, Part no. 044708. In Europe, they are available at a few online shops. Despite the service contract, DG charges their customers a premium for spare parts over here.I once witnessed a gear-up *takeoff* in an LS-4, when that little gas strut gave out. Apparently the LS-4 hit a bump along the takeoff path, it was enough to cause the over-center cylinder to give out. This caused the gear to retract. The glider didn't
What a story for the bar with the glider buddies: "You did a gear up landing? Well that's nothing! Mario over here did a gear up *takeoff* !"
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