Why is the landing gear included in a preflight inspection?

• A.Landing gear condition only matters for aircraft that land on water
• B.Landing gear is decorative and carries no load
• C.Damaged or loose gear can cause the aircraft to tip, strike propellers, or be damaged on takeoff or landing

Why

The gear supports the aircraft on the ground and absorbs landing loads. Cracks, looseness, or deformation can lead to a tip-over or secondary damage, so defects should be corrected first.

Source: FAA-G-8082-22 Ch. 12 · ACS knowledge area: Maintenance and Preflight Inspection Procedures · From the Maintenance & Preflight Inspection practice bank (MNT-018).

Practice this category as a full test

More Landing Gear Inspection questions

• During a preflight inspection you find a small nick and a hairline crack near the hub of one propeller. What is the correct action?
• What should a careful inspection of the airframe and arms look for before flight?
• When you rotate a motor by hand during preflight, it feels gritty and makes a scraping sound unlike the other motors. What should you do?
• Under 14 CFR 107.15, when may a remote pilot in command operate a small unmanned aircraft that he or she knows is not in a condition for safe operation?
• How does required maintenance for a small unmanned aircraft differ from that for most manned aircraft?