Originally Posted by
sailingfun
The 737NG does not use gear doors. The tires fit very tightly in the gear wells to reduce drag. Any damage to the tire could jam the gear in the well. To prevent this there is a pin that would be hit by a blown or damage tire. It prevents that gear from retracting into the gear well and it free falls back down. It would be a long flight to PDX with one gear hanging down.
Sailing, Sailing, Sailing,
My dear man - you must be a 777 pilot, or something similarly impressive - but surely not a lowly 737 pilot. The pin as you so cavalierly called it, is actually a "
frangible fitting" which protrudes next to where the gear retracts. Theory being, a damaged tire will break the fitting, which will bleed out hydraulic fluid, causing the gear to free-fall, if it where indeed, in the retraction process. If the gear was down - same result, you cannot raise it, due to no hydraulic fluid in the "gear-up" lines.
Scoop - Lowly 737 Pilot
