[STEVE]

STEVE on August 21, 2020 at 9:21 am #20121

-Hi Pete,
The system is designed to retract the gear a 103-105 knots. A description of the system is in the POH.
Like you, many Piper retractable owners were dissatisfied with the system. One of the main gripes was that the automatic-and uncommanded by the pilot- extension of landing gear in a loss of power scenario severely lessens the glide distance. It also reduces climb rate compared to the gear up climb rate.
So Piper issued Service Bulletin 769 in 1983. This bulletin announced the availability of a “lock out mechanism” to hold the emergency extension lever in a locked out position. The mechanism is in Piper kit 760-542V. This bulletin only applies to the following aircraft:
28R-30004 through 28R-31135;
28R-31251 through 28R-31270;
28R-7130001 through 28R-7130019
28R-35001 through 28R-35392;
28R-35601 through 28R-35820;
28R-7135001 through 28R-7135232
I’m assuming if your airplane is not in this list the lock out lever has already been installed by Piper at the factory.
In 1988 Piper issued Service Bulletin 866A, titled “Back Up Landing Gear Extender Removal.” The removal kit for your airplane is 765-303.
If you decide that this system is not something you want installed on your airplane, you can find a couple of companies that have NOS kits in stock by typing the part number into the search window at http://www.Controller.com.
New price for the kit is around $1000.
If you want to keep the system, there is quite a bit of troubleshooting and adjustment information in the service manual. Perhaps all it needs is a “tune up.”
Please let me know what you decide.
Steve

[Pete Castine]

Pete Castine on August 20, 2020 at 6:48 am #20120

Back to the topic of my 1971 P28R-200 Arrow with the Auto Gear Extension system; a question for those with the AGE installed and operating in their plane.

The AGE is designed to extend the gear when the airspeed drops below 105mph. On takeoff, if you place the gear selector switch in the UP position, will the gear retract on climb out (speed below 105)? Or would you need to hold the AGE override lever in the UP position to get the gear to come up (until you reach 105mph)?

When I originally bought my Arrow, the AGE system was working. On takeoff, I would select gear up, and the gear would retract regardless of speed. The system developed some problems (leaking bellows, other) and it was rebuilt. After rebuild, the gear will not retract on T/O until speed increases above 105. AGE works normally to lower gear when speeds drop below 105.

People on other forums are saying this is correct; but I can’t believe Piper would design a system that requires you to keep one hand on an override lever while you’re in one of the most critical phases of flight.

Pete