FAA Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA)Landing Gear SystemsHard
A technician is servicing an air/oil (oleo pneumatic) shock strut and must determine the correct amount of strut extension for the current conditions. Because the volume of compressed gas in the strut changes with temperature, the manufacturer provides a servicing chart that correlates ambient temperature to the
- Arequired tire inflation pressure
- Bproper strut extension distance for that temperature
- Cmaximum allowable brake wear limit
- Dcorrect type of hydraulic fluid to use
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. proper strut extension distance for that temperature
Gas volume and pressure inside an oleo strut vary with ambient temperature, so manufacturers publish a temperature-versus-extension chart to ensure the strut is serviced to the correct extended length rather than relying on pressure gauge readings alone, which would be inaccurate at different temperatures.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Tire pressure is checked separately and is not governed by this strut chart.
- C. Brake wear limits are unrelated to strut gas temperature effects.
- D. Hydraulic fluid type is fixed by specification, not temperature-dependent selection.
Oleo Strut Temperature-Extension Chart
A manufacturer's chart correlating ambient temperature to the correct extended length of an air/oil shock strut, used because gas volume varies with temperature.
- Gas volume expands/contracts with temperature changes
- Extension measured with aircraft on jacks or at rest
- Ensures correct strut charge regardless of ambient conditions
- Different from checking pressure gauge alone
Memory trick: Hot air stretches, cold air shrinks — chart tells the right length.