Piper SENECA III User Manual

SECTION
7
PIPER
AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
DESCRIPTION &
OPERATION
PA-34-220T, SENECA III
7.9
LANDING GEAR
The Seneca
111
is
equipped
with
hydraulically
operated,
fully
retract-
able,
tricycle
landing
gear.
Hydraulic
pressure
for
gear
operation
is
furnished
by
an
electrically
powered,
reversible
hydraulic
pump
(refer
to
Figures
7-5 and
7-7),
The
pump
is
activated by
a
two-position
gear
selector
switch
located
to
the left
of
the
control
quadrant
on
the
instrument
panel
(Figure 7-3). The
gear
selector
switch,
which has
a
wheel-shaped
knob,
must
be
pulled
out
before it is
moved
to
the
"UP"
or
"DOWN"
position. When hydraulic
pressure
is
exerted
in
one
direction,
the
gear
is
retracted; when
it is
exerted
in
the
other
direction,
the
gear
is
extended.
Gear
extension
or
retraction
normally
takes
six
to
seven
seconds.
CAUTION
lf
the
landing
gear
is in
transit,
and
the
hydraulic
pump
is
running,
it is NOT advisable
to
move
the
gear
selector
switch
to
the
opposite
position
before
the
gear
has reached
its full
travel
limit, because
a
sudden reversal
may
damage
the
electric
pump.
The
landing
gear
is
designed
to
extend
even
in
the
event
of
hydraulic
failure.
Since
the
gear
is
held
in
the
retracted
position
by hydraulic
pressure,
should
the
hydraulic
system
fail for
any
reason,
gravity
will
allow
the
gear
to
extend.
When
the
landing
gear
is
retracted,
the
main wheels
retract
inboard
into
the
wings
and
the
nose
wheel
retracts
forward into the
nose
section.
Aerodynamic loads
and
springs
assist
in
gear
extension
and
in
locking
the
gear
in the
down
position. During
gear
extension,
once
the
nose
has
started
toward the
down
position,
the
airstream pushes
against
it
and
assists
in
moving
it
to
the
downlocked
position.
After
the
gears
are
down
and
the
downlock
hooks
engage,
springs
maintain
force
on
each
hook
to
keep
it
locked
until it is
released
by
hydraulic
pressure,
REPORT:
VB-1110
ISSUED:
APRIL 9, 1982
7-6b

Piper SENECA III Specifications

General

Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
Model	Seneca III
Engine Type	Piston
Engine Model	Continental TSIO-360-KB
Seating Capacity	6
Cruise Speed	188 knots (216 mph, 348 km/h)
Length	28 ft 7 in (8.71 m)
Max Takeoff Weight	4, 750 lb (2, 155 kg)
Horsepower	220 hp each
Service Ceiling	25, 000 ft (7, 620 m)
Height	9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
Propellers	2-bladed constant speed