NORTHWEST

DC9 MAINTENANCE MANUAL

GENERAL – DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

1. Description

A. The airplane is equipped with a fully retractable tricycle landing gear consisting of nosegear and main gear
assemblies. The nosegear assembly is steerable, has dual wheels, and is mounted in a wheel well in the
forward lower section of the nose of the airplane. The main gear assembly consists of a right and a left
main gear assembly which are not interchangeable. The main gear assemblies are strut mounted to a
support fitting attached to the wing rear spar in the root area of each wing. The main gear assemblies
retract into wheel wells on each side of the lower fuselage and are enclosed by doors faired to the fuselage
contour. See Figure 1 for location of landing gear controls and indicators.

B. The main gear inboard doors and the nose gear forward doors are connected to their respective gear
through linkages which sequence the doors to the open position during gear travel and to the closed
position at the end of each cycle. The nose gear aft doors and the main gear outboard doors move with
the gear. Each wheel well is completely enclosed by doors when the gear is retracted, and the major
portion of each wheel well is enclosed after the gear is extended.

C. Gear retraction and extension and the mechanical release of the door latches are controlled by the landing
gear control lever. The hydraulic power system actuates the gear, door latches, bungee cylinders, brakes,
and the nosewheel steering system. Without hydraulic power, the gear can be mechanically released to
free–fall and lock in the down position through use of an alternate extension control lever.

D. The nosewheel steering system is hydraulically controlled through a full range of 164 degrees, 82 degrees
to either side of center, by a steering wheel located on the captain’s left console. The rudder pedals may
be used for 17 degrees or less steering control to either side of neutral position. When the steering
cylinders are in the neutral position, they act as shimmy dampers.

E. Each main gear wheel is fitted with a hydraulic power disc brake. The brakes are manually controlled and
metered by the brake control valves, which are operated by a cable system connected to the brake pedals.
An electrically controlled antiskid system provides a locked–wheel protection feature and affords a
maximum efficiency to the brake system. The antiskid system dual servo valves meter applied pressure
to the brakes as required to prevent skidding.

F. An electrically monitored indicating and warning system provides the flight crew with all necessary gear
and door position indications.

NOTE: In addition to the functional test procedures contained in this chapter, Inspection Test Correct as Necessary
(ITCAN) test procedures for the entire hydraulic system and related components are contained in Chapter
29–10–00. Main – Adjustment Test.

Effectivity
CODE 1 32–00–00 Page 1
JUN 21/04
 NORTHWEST
DC9 MAINTENANCE MANUAL

MAIN GEAR AND DOORS – DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

1. General

A. Each main gear consists of two wheels and brakes, attached to an oleo strut mounted on a support fitting
that is attached to the rear spar in each wing root area. The main gear is moved approximately 90 degrees
inboard and up, and the side braces fold up during gear retraction. The main gear is completely enclosed
by the inboard and outboard doors during flight.

B. Each main gear is supported laterally by the side brace links which are locked in the down position by the
overcenter links that are driven hydraulically by a bungee cylinder and mechanically by the bungee
springs. The side brace links and the overcenter links fold up along the gear strut during gear retraction.
Each main gear is hydraulically raised to the up position by a main gear actuating cylinder, and is held in
the up position by the main gear doors and latches during flight, when hydraulic system pressure is
reduced to 1500 psi.

C. A segmented rotor and disc–type power brake is installed on each main gear wheel. The brake carrier
is bolted to a flanged portion of the fixed axle, which is an integral part of the oleo piston. There are four
sleeves pressed on the axle which provide a replaceable contact surface for each main gear wheel
bearing.

D. One large inboard and one small outboard door enclose each wheel well. Inboard doors are sequenced
to the open position during gear travel and are closed at both ends cf the travel cycle. The outboard doors
are linked directly to the gear strut and follow the gear at all times. The aft section of each outboard door
is driven, by linkages, to an unfaired position during gear extension and retraction. This position of the
door surface utilizes airstream to assist the gear retraction.

E. Accomplishes initial and repetitive (YEARLY) visual inspection of group II DC–9 aircraft MLG outboard
door assembly, hinges, linkages, and attachments for wear, corrosion, cracks, and general condition. As
required, discrepant pan(s) are repaired or replaced. In addition to visual inspection, a tap test is performed
on Group II aircraft MLG outboard door for delamination. If delamination exceeds allowable limits, door
is repaired or replaced as required.

NOTE: Group II aircraft are those which have a main landing gear outboard door wing mounted titanium hinge half.

F. Accomplishes a visual inspection of the MLG outboard door wing mounted and door mounted aluminum
hinge half lobes for minimum wall thickness. Discrepant pans are replaced.

G. The main gear forward hose support links are used to support the brake forward hoses. The upper links
are connected to the strut forward clevis. The lower rods are connected to the forward outboard clevis
fitting on the axle. The upper links and lower rods are joined together by a bolt and nut and are spaced
with washers. The upper hose support links and lower support rods contain sealed bearings, and do not
require lubrication.

Effectivity
CODE 3 32–10–00 Page 1
JUN 21/04
 NORTHWEST
DC9 MAINTENANCE MANUAL

BUNGEE SPRINGS

BUNGEE
END BEARING CYLINDER
BEAM FITTING

TORQUE TUBE OVERCENTER

LINK
NOSE GEAR
ACTUATING
CYLINDER

FWD DOOR
ACTIVATING LEFT STEERING
CRANK CYLINDER

UPPER DRAG LINK

RIGHT STEERING
DOOR RELEASE END BEARING
CYLINDER
AND DRIVE LINK
LOW DRAG LINK
SIDE BRACE

AFT DOOR DRIVE ARM

Nosegear
Figure 1

Effectivity
CODE 1 32–20–00 Page 2
JUN 21/04
 NORTHWEST
DC9 MAINTENANCE MANUAL

NOSE STEERING COLLAR

LEFT RIGHT
STEERING STEERING
CYLINDER CYLINDER

LEGEND
PRESSURE
RETURN

RESTRICTOR
VALVE
(4 PLACES)

NORMAL
BYPASS

NOTE:
LEFT PRESSURE SHOWN PORTED FOR
BYPASS BEGINNING OF A RIGHT TURN. RIGHT
RELIEF BYPASS
VALVE RELIEF
VALVE

INTERCONNECT LINK

 
 




RIGHT

RETURN TO
RIGHT SYSTEM
LEFT

RIGHT SYSTEM
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
LEFT SYSTEM

CHECK VALVE
(4 PLACES)
RETURN TO
LEFT SYSTEM

BB2–553

Nosewheel Steering Hydraulic Control System – Schematic

Figure 1

Effectivity
CODE 1 32–52–00 Page 3
AUG 01/04