The Piper Arrow uses a hydraulically operated system to extend and retract the landing gear. There is no gear up lock, and the gear is held up by hydraulic pressure with only a gear down and lock function. If the hydraulic pump activates in cruise, it could indicate a leak in the hydraulic line requiring immediate attention. The landing gear operates between 107-129 KIAS, and can be extended manually up to 87 KIAS. In the cockpit, warning lights will illuminate if the gear is not fully down and locked, or if in a low power configuration with the gear still down. Gear up landings can occur due to pilot error, mechanical issues, or random failures during maintenance.

1. PIPER ARROW
LANDING GEAR
SYSTEM

2. • Taletha Petre
• Piper Arrow Landing Gear System
• PowerPoint presentation with classroom assist

3. HOW DOES IT FUNCTION
• The Piper Arrow System is a hydraulically operated system for both the
extension and retraction of the landing gear.
• There is no gear up lock function. The gear is held up by hydraulic pressure.
There is only a gear down and lock function.
• ** If you hear the hydraulic pump activate while in cruise you may have a leak
in your hydraulic line that needs immediate attention**
• **A common misconception in some videos is that it is a hydraulic up and
gravity down system but that is incorrect.

5. LANDING V-SPEEDS
Vlo (retract) – landing gear operation 107 KIAS
Vlo (extend) – Landing gear operation 129 KIAS
Vlo (extend manually) – Landing gear operation 87 KIAS
Vle – maximum landing gear extension speed 129 KIAS

7. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE INSIDE OF
THE COCKPIT?

9. WHAT TO DO IF ONE LIGHT DOES NOT
SHOW DOWN AND LOCKED?

10. WHEN WOULD YOU WANT TO IGNORE THE
WARNING LIGHT?
• For maximum glide in an engine out situation
• Practicing stalls with gear up
• When doing touch and goes and remaining in the traffic pattern

11. WHEN DOES THE WARNING GEAR LIGHT
ILLUMINATE?
• In a gear up and low power configuration (around 14” of manifold pressure)
• The auto extend system has lowered the gear but the handle is still raised
• Gear handle is raised but the plane is still on the ground

12. WHY DO GEAR UP LANDINGS HAPPEN?
Sales
Pilot Error Mechanical Gear Collapse (side load, etc.) Random / Maintenance

13. BONUS QUESTIONS
• What constitutes a complex aircraft?
• Are all retractable landing gear aircraft considered complex aircraft?
• What is the significance of 87 KIAS?

14. YOUR QUESTIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjFg5uEIszA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-_eEYamuNw

15. REFERENCES
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjFg5uEIszA
• http://www.heilmannpub.com/Arrow%20Gear%20Presentation.pdf
• https://www.euroga.org/forums/instructors/1946-piper-arrow-ii-operational-tips-landing-gear-system