Nosegear Warning Plate

[MD83driver]

Rick, The placard is shown in fig.2 Item 37. It is not shown in the parts catalog of the nose strut. Here are pictures of the installed placard as it was on my plane. These are the only pictures I have. Ray

[Rick Erwin]

Thanks Ray. Figure 2 is where I must have seen the placard.

I'll have to check whether it's there tomorrow. I'm thinking it's not...

Rick

[Rick Erwin]

It's there! I'd never noticed it. Something else to restore.

Thanks again, Ray

[wslade2]

I always wondered what that plate was there for!

[Rick Erwin]

wslade2, you're ahead of me as I had never noticed it.

Dean is making me a placard for it, red-faced laminate, laser cut white letters. I will spray it with a couple coats of clear to help with abrasion.

I'll first have to remove the placard holder to clean up the ferrous metal and prime it before I attach the new placard. He's using a type of laminate that has a strong adhesive backing, so it should stick well. I'll be the guinea pig for the first run at the thing.

If anybody else wants one, let Dean know at dean@pipts.com as it'd be easy to have the machine make several rather than one. He's asking $20 bucks.

He's done all kinds of panels, 3D maker stuff, placards, decals for me. Excellent work, reasonable prices.

Rick

[Rick Erwin]

Since the bracket for the "DEPRESS AIRPLANE NOSE WHEN TOWING" placard doesn't appear to be in the parts manual, this is for any DIYers wanting to make their own.

Here are the dimensions:

Stock - 0.75" x 4.625" x 0.0435"

The 90-degree bend occurs at 2.125" on the leg with the mounting hole in it.

The mounting hole diameter is 0.325" and is centered 0.3875" from the end.

The front face on which the placard mounts is 2.325" wide by 0.75" high.
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I went on a search for why this placard exists. Like OhioSkymaster and MD83driver, I couldn't find anything in the Parts Manual about it. I couldn't find anything in the Airplane Flight Manual about it either. There is a Caution statement in Section 2-General Handling-Towing that only states: "Depress nose of aircraft when towing." No explanation beyond that.

I discussed this with my IA, who believes it is related to a self-centering mechanism that centers the nose gear prior to retraction to prevent damage during retraction. He said if the oleo strut on the nose gear is extended to the point it has locked into the self-centered position, and the nose gear is then turned, the nose gear linkage would be damaged. Makes sense.

Rick

[Rick Erwin]

Closing the loop on this project.

The bracket attaches to the inside of the lower, aft bolt that holds the nose gear limit switch bracket.

[patrolpilot]

Originally Posted by Rick Erwin

If anybody else wants one, let Dean know at dean@pipts.com as it'd be easy to have the machine make several rather than one. He's asking $20 bucks.

Rick, any other contact for Dean? I tried emailing him twice but get this back in return.

"The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now. Please try resending your message later, or contact the recipient directly."

[Rick Erwin]

Patrolpilot,

I just spoke with Dean; he's getting our emails ... but the server is errantly sending the "mailbox is full message".

He's going to talk with his IT folks tomorrow about it.

Rick