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Posted for "Thomas Sterbutzel" <TomSterbutzel@cox.rr.com>:

I'm having an intermittent problem with my landing gear.  During a flight about a month ago, my IV was not able to achieve normal indicated speeds in climb and cruise. On this flight it felt and sounded as if something was dragging and the plane would not trim properly...Left wing heavy.  I know it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure the gear is not retracting completely! Swung the gear and tested the gear motor and pump and everything seemed O.K.

I've flown a dozen times since with no recurrence until last Tuesday morning on my way to Reno. I was on my initial climb out when I got the same symptoms
as the other flight... Not quite the same performance, rumbling and left wing heavy. As I was trying everything I could think of, ATC ordered me down. Luckily they let me limp back to my home at Leesburg, VA.

Twice on the jacks the gear has swung properly. Today my mechanic (I bought my IV last year!) and I flew with the back seat out and the inspection panels off so we had a clear view and lo and behold the right gear stopped at about 45 degrees. The hyd pump acted as if the gear were up and locked. Nothing obvious was binding the gear.

Any suggestions on troubleshooting would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom Sterbutzel
N400JL IV
644 TT

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