Sticky Main Gear Eventually Cooperates

What could have been a harrowing experience for about 10 passengers riding on the Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" Wednesday morning, instead presented an opportunity for them to spend an extra 30 minutes flying in the skies over Houston... and get a first-hand lesson in troubleshooting.

The problems began at approximately 10 am. The plane was returning to Ellington Field when the left main gear would not extend. According to EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski, the plane's crew radioed EAA personnel and experts on the ground to troubleshoot the problem.

After discussing possible causes and solutions, the decision was made to recycle the landing gear. That brought the right maingear back up... before both landing gear legs extended, and locked into place.

Aluminum Overcast landed without incident... leaving EAA'ers scratching their heads on what could have caused the problem to begin with.

"We've never seen this kind of problem before," Knapinski told Aero-News.

The plane will remain at Ellington Field while staffers attempt to diagnose the problem. "We're lucky this happened at a facility like Ellington," Knapinski said, "with hangar facilities and jacks available." (We imagine there are more than a few eager USAF personnel willing to lend a helpful hand, as well -- Ed.)

This isn't the first time landing gear woes have struck the 61-year-old Overcast. As Aero-News reported in May 2004, the plane suffered gear collapse while taxiing off the runway at Southern California's Van Nuys Airport, shortly after the plane made an uneventful landing.

The plane was ferried back to Wittman Field the following September, and a 19-month restoration effort began. The plane took to the skies again last March (above).

FMI: www.b17.org