Attention Mustang owners and A & Ps

[FITD]

Attention Mustang Owners and A & Ps.

Recently a D model Mustang flying in Australia experienced the failure of the clamshell gear door rear hinge casting, while the gear was selected "up", resulting in the hydraulic system and T handle becoming locked. A gear up landing was made which resulted in damage to the aircraft but more fortunately no damage to the persons onboard.

Initial investigation of the cause of this incident has highlighted a potential problem area in the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) manufactured clamshell gear door rear hinge castings. There is a possibility that some surplus stocks of these doors may have found their way to the United States of America and as such may be fitted to your Mustang.

A simple check of the part number on the rear hinge will identify the casting as follows;

106-33319, North American Aviation part number. The factory drawing stipulates this part is made from Aluminium Alloy and should be x-rayed inspected.

M17-33319, is the CAC equivalent part BUT the M prefix indicates the part is made from Magnesium Alloy and not Aluminium Alloy.

Following the above incident, local Mustang operators were advised of the initial findings which resulted in the discovery of another casting on the point of failure.

Therefore it might be prudent for you to check your clamshell door rear hinge castings if you believe that your aircraft is fitted with Australian manufactured doors.

A few minutes checking them now might just save you being embarrassed and out of pocket if one does fail.

FITD

[mgeorge51]

Very much appreciated will ck mine tomorrow and advise all that I know.
Thanks

[daveymac82c]

Thank you for posting.

That's very interesting information.

Cheers,

David

[mustanglover]

Noted, will check this week.

[Chris]

I'll check SUSU ASAP. Thanks for the info. Although the pilot did a good job on the video, it still makes you cringe to think of what could have happened.

[Hal B]

Thanks for the info.! Our '51 is in for a 25 hr. check now and I'll have a look tomorrow.

[Yak 11 Fan]

Many thanks for the info, the ones I looked at this evening all had 106 on them