Gear door actuators

[Todd Gessel]

Anyone familiar with "gland end" actuators for the main gear doors? I recently had a 'gear up landing' due to mechanical failure of the right main gear door actuator snap ring. It appears the snap ring gave way and the end of the actuator came out of the housing causing all the hydraulic fluid to pump out. I have heard that some later models have what is called a 'gland end' actuator where the end screws into the housing rather than a snap ring holding it in place. My Skymaster is a 1977 337G, normally aspirated, non-pressurized.

[Dale Campbell]

If you remove the Main doors with the mode, you will not ever have that problem. I did that 9 years ago and love that mode. It does not affect airspeed and you can put up gear as soon as you leave ground and have a cleaner climb out. It would have saved you thousands
of dollars on gear up landing. Dale

[edasmus]

Hi Todd,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune but thanks for the info. I have a 1973G model. Same as yours, just a few years older. How many hours are on your airframe?

Thanks Ed

[Skymaster337B]

Was it the snap ring that failed or the lip it sits in, inside the actuator?

[Todd Gessel]

I can really appreciate the comments on the gear door mod, it would have saved thousands!

My airplane has about 800 hours total on it, engines and airframe. I don't know why the snap ring or groove it fits into failed, if there are actuators with ends that screw on, I would like to consider them. Anyone familiar with this?

[Skymaster337B]

If you're able, could you post another pic of the snap ring and the actuator open-end taken straight on and closer-up? Thanks.