Are Missing Main Gear Strut Fairings on a Cherokee 140 an Airworthiness Issue?

[Mooney Fan]

My new to me Cherokee doesn't have main gear strut fairings. It just came out of annual and nothing was said about it.

There was a thread a while back on the Piper Forum and there was discussion that they are a requirement for flight?

Looking at some from Texas Air Salvage or may go new with some from Knots2U but they will need painted.

 

[RyanB]

As in all three are missing or just the nose wheel has one and the mains don’t?

 

[Mooney Fan]

As in all three are missing or just the nose wheel has one and the mains don’t?

All 3 have have wheel pants. The mains are the ones missing the strut fairings

 

[RyanB]

All 3 have have wheel pants. The mains are the ones missing the strut fairings

It’s not an airworthiness issue. Wheel fairings are not required equipment per the equipment list that is in the W&B. You can fly with them, or without.

 

[Mooney Fan]

It’s not an airworthiness issue. Wheel fairings are not required equipment per the equipment list that is in the W&B. You can fly with them, or without.

These are not the wheel pants. They are the strut fairings. Here's a pic

 

[RyanB]

These are not the wheel pants. They are the strut fairings. Here's a pic

View attachment 139929

Ah.

Look in the equipment list that is in the W&B. Usually that is part of the wheel fairing assembly and is not an airworthiness item.

 

[Silvaire]

Should probably at least be a logbook entry. You wouldn't want someone flying the plane to notice it at their destination and end up scratching his head wondering "wait a minute, I could have sworn they were on there when I took off"

 

[Mooney Fan]

Update- The upper strut fairings are in place. They are not painted. The plane is currently in the shop having the struts overhauled/rebuilt.

When they jack the plane up the MLG struts extend but when the aircraft if put back on the ground they stick

So we have pulled them and doing a rebuild. The IA found the contents of the struts to be as he described as gross with sludge. Dry and flattened O-rings etc. The kits are inexpensive but the labor is what gets you. He also found the MLG top plates to be pitted so I am replacing those which are not cheap.