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Jacking spring steel landing gear

Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice question 23 of 25 on Weight and Balance. ACS element AM.I.C.K9 · difficulty: standard. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONAn airplane with spring steel landing gear is being jacked at the wheel for weighing. As the weight comes off the tire, what should the technician expect?

  1. AThe nosewheel strut will extend and change the level attitude
  2. BThe landing gear will slide inward, which could tip the jack
  3. CThe scale reading at that wheel will increase from side loading
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. The landing gear will slide inward, which could tip the jack

  • A — incorrect Strut extension is not the hazard described for spring steel gear; the concern is lateral movement of the gear leg at the jack.
  • B — correct The handbook warns that when spring steel gear is jacked at the wheel, the gear slides inward as weight is taken off the tire, and care must be taken to prevent the jack from tipping over.
  • C — incorrect As weight comes off the tire the load on that point decreases; the hazard is the gear sliding inward and tipping the jack.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft are often weighed by rolling them onto ramps with embedded load cells, which avoids jacking. Many, however, are weighed by jacking the aircraft and lowering it onto scales or load cells. If the aircraft has spring steel landing gear and is jacked at the wheel, the gear slides inward as the weight is taken off the tire, so care must be taken to prevent the jack from tipping over. For some aircraft, stress panels or plates must be installed before they are raised with wing jacks, and the manufacturer's recommendations must be followed in detail whenever an aircraft is jacked.

STUDY TIP

Picture the spring gear straightening as it unloads; that geometry is why the wheel moves inward and the jack can tip.

KEY POINTS

  • Spring steel gear slides inward when jacked at the wheel.
  • The movement can tip the jack over.
  • Always follow the manufacturer's jacking instructions.

SOURCES

  • FAA-H-8083-30B ch06 "Jacking the Aircraft"
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-30B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General, 14 CFR part 43 and part 65. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.