Raytheon Beech 1900 Series - Service Difficulty Alert

AL 2006-02
27 February 2006

Several Canadian Beech 1900 series operators have encountered main wheel bearing failures and, in some reported cases, the wheel bearing failure contributed to the main wheel departing the aircraft.

Further investigation of the wheel bearing assemblies concluded grease degradation. The Beech 1900 Maintenance Manual requires main wheel bearing lubrication at every tire change. There is no additional requirement for inspection or lubrication of the wheel bearing.

Take-off and landing cycles, grease type and the use of degreasers on aircraft may increase the degradation of the wheel bearing grease.  Some Beech 1900 operators have acknowledged that the wheel bearing lubrication schedule is inadequate and have increased the inspection frequency (every 200 or 300 hours) to suit their particular type of operation.

Transport Canada recommends operators of Beech 1900 series aircraft to adjust the frequency of lubrication if their reliability program indicates frequent wheel bearing failures. The manufacturer’s recommended grease types, or an approved equivalent, should be used for the lubrication of the wheel bearing. 

Any further defects or occurrences should be reported to Transport Canada, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, via Service Difficulty Reporting program.

For further information, contact a Transport Canada Centre, or Mr. Jean Grenier, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, telephone (613) 952-4343, facsimile (613) 996-9178 or e-mail grenije@tc.gc.ca.

For Director, Aircraft Certification

Bill Taylor
for B. Goyaniuk
Chief, Continuing Airworthiness

Note: For the electronic version of this document, please consult the following Web address: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/aircraft-airworthiness/aircraft-certification