Gear Pins

[Stroker]

Just looking for what other operators do. Does mx at your airline ever remove the gear pins, or is it always a flight crew responsibility? We want to make sure we have the best possible system of checks and balance.

Thanks

 

[ReportCanoa]

Not a crew function, unless they are installed, which they shouldn't be, unless the aircraft is being towed by a tow team who are responsible for removing them in the first place.

 

[Soverytired]

Supposed to be a MX only function . . . they actually have to put a entry in the MX logbook whenever they are installed or taken out. That last bit was added after WAY too many planes were taking off w/pins installed.

Sounds incredible, no? Well, most of the "gear pin incidents" happened after some grease-monkey installed his own personal set . . . a set that had NO flags attached, making them very difficult to see . . . almost impossible on the CRJ9 (also the CRJ2, where crews aren't supposed to be opening the forward nose doors . . . also a MX function.)

Occasionally still happens though.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

On the SAAB at Mesaba, the gear pin/nose steer lockout clamp is in and out all day long. But if MX taxis the plane, they actually make an entry in the logbook for the main gear pins.

 

[Stroker]

Follow up question: Is there anybody out there who can see being a pilot function?

We sometimes have airplanes at the gate overnight. In this situation, MX is reluctant to taxi the plane from the hangar to the gate, release an airplane for flight (iow remove the pins) and have the plane sit there all night without pins. Seems like, if that's the case, perhaps a second trip to the gate by mx may be in order. They could remove the pins then.

Personally, I am a fan of the 3 check method.

1. Mx removes pins
2. Pilot preflighting verifies pins removed
3. Other pilot verifies 3 pins installed in the cockpit holsters

If you can, please mention your operator. Otherwise, the type of airplane. Your input is most appreciated.

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

At PDT, it's on the receiving/originating checlist. Make sure they're stowed, because MX puts them in to prevent gear retraction. Gear won't go up and you get a trip to the Kremlin.

 

[AirCanon04]

every RON here at CHQ on the 145 we - the crew - put the pins in...and then take them back out in the morning.

 

[SXMp2c]

At CHQ we (flight crew) have to put the pins in at night and we pull them in the morning. This is at every overnight, be it maint or not.

 

[SXMp2c]

damnit cannon, i type too slowly

 

[saab fixr]

Hey SOvery whats with the name calling, you cry like babies when we Mx folks call you bus drivers and other names. I believe we MX folks are still called Mechanics. Not grease monkeys!!! and as for the gear pin thing most airlines ive worked for removed when doing the release after over night maint except the Ole shuttle America folks they made the Pilots remove those greasy parts to get some kind of kick out of it, and believe me those slaabbbs were dirty to the point most FO"s used trash bags over their hands to take them out.

 

[Cows Go Moo]

One smart feature I liked a lot about the E145 was the little gear pin keeper behind the captain seat. Made checking on their wherabouts very easy.

 

[DrewBlows]

Comair has a rack behind the FO's seat, the presence of the pins are checked during the preflight (duh!) and the Acceptance Checklist. As far as I know there is only one set per airplane. The only time I have ever had to remove pins is when picking an airplane up from a maintanence base, and I have never put a pin in.

 

[Shrek]

Didn't know it was that technical.............lol.

 

[shamrock]

(also the CRJ2, where crews aren't supposed to be opening the forward nose doors . . . also a MX function.)

Opening the nose doors during preflight is a regular occurance at ASA, and gear pins aren't used at all most of the time. A few years back they tried pinning the nose gear (crew responsibility) whenever the plane was powered down completely because of some incident at another airline but it didn't last long because it caused more problems with pins being left in for takeoff.

 

[greedypilot]

The nose gear pin is installed on the SAAB for pushbacks.

 

[Cardinal]

On our 1900's it's a Mx function with a writeup requried. On the E120 it's a pilot function, and the gearpins are on the acceptance checklist. Go figure.

 

[pilot05]

At CHQ we (flight crew) have to put the pins in at night and we pull them in the morning. This is at every overnight, be it maint or not.

you don't pin the nose gear on pushback. why would you need to pin gear on normal overnight's? Seem's silly. And why risk tko with them installed?

 

[91100 100 set]

you don't pin the nose gear on pushback. why would you need to pin gear on normal overnight's? Seem's silly. And why risk tko with them installed?

It is silly. I've banged my head more than once climbing under the nose gear, and ruined at least one shirt bumping into something dirty. And yes, we (CHQ) have departed at least once with the pins installed. The plane can sit broken at a gate for a few hours without the pins in place before maintenance gets around to even looking at it, but god forbid it sits 6 or 7 hours before the morning flight.

In a former life, gear pins in or out was a logbook entry, and the only time I ever had to touch them was the one time we ferried a plane with the gear down, doors open and pins installed.

 

[Capn Sac]

Hey D now I know. You the man.


Sack

 

[SpoilerFault]

Just a suggestion...if your company doesn't have any clear guidelines on who's responsibility it is then push the issue to get some sort of SOP in place. As a mechanic I ALWAYS take the pins out before the crew gets to the a/c because I figure the pins are generally installed as a maint. function. Plus, I get paid to venture into dirty wheel wells so there's no need for you guys to also. At ASA it depends on who you talk to, some say it's the mech's responsibility to ensure they're removed and some say it is the flight crews. We (maint) SHOULD be making a write up for installed gear pins. That way we're all covered.

 

[WSurf]

At PDT, it's on the receiving/originating checlist. Make sure they're stowed, because MX puts them in to prevent gear retraction. Gear won't go up and you get a trip to the Kremlin.

Space positive trip?

 

[CA1900]

.....

This message is hidden because saab fixr is on your ignore list.

 

[Soverytired]

Hey SOvery whats with the name calling, you cry like babies when we Mx folks call you bus drivers and other names. I believe we MX folks are still called Mechanics. Not grease monkeys!!! and as for the gear pin thing most airlines ive worked for removed when doing the release after over night maint except the Ole shuttle America folks they made the Pilots remove those greasy parts to get some kind of kick out of it, and believe me those slaabbbs were dirty to the point most FO"s used trash bags over their hands to take them out.

Whoa! Relax. I didn't realize "grease monkey" was considered a perjorative insult in the A&P world. I'll wipe it from the vocab.

As to removing the pin in question: the only guy I actually know who had this happen to him ALWAYS counted his gear pins and flags before EACH departure . . . policy at this place is that those are the ONLY pins to be used on the aircraft.

You can bet he was PLENTY surprised (not to mentioned pissed) when they reached for the gear handle and couldn't retract . . . a helpful mechanic had changed a tire and stuck his own personal NON-FLAGGED gear pin in the nose gear when they were on a 2 hour turn.

But hey, pilots aren't perfect either, I'd be the first to admit!