3.2 Aircraft Systems and Flight

     Within an aircraft there are multiple systems that make a plane functional and operational. When these systems fail or have problems, it could lead to the aircraft malfunctioning and possibly crash. The system that I will be discussing in this post is the hydraulic system. There are multiple uses for the hydraulic system, some of which are to operate the wheel brakes, retractable landing gear, propellers, wing flaps, spoilers, and other control surfaces (FAA, 2016).

    The hydraulic system is a very complex and thorough system in an aircraft. It is composed of a reservoir which holds a volume of fluid to transfer heat from the system to allow solid containments to settle and release air and moisture from the fluid (Machinery Lubrication, 2019). A pump which transmits mechanical energy to hydraulic energy through the movement of fluids (Machinery Lubrication, 2019). Next, there is a filter to keep the fluids within clean (FAA, 2016). The selector valve controls the direction of flow with the fluids. With all this fluid and pressure there needs to be a release, this is the relief valve (FAA, 2016). Finally, you have the actuator. This is the final step in the hydraulic process, and it is where the hydraulic energy is converted to mechanical energy (Machinery Lubrication, 2019).   


    With this being a very complex system, it is obvious that problems may arise and would need to be fixed. Common problems with this system are air and water contamination, temperature problems, fluid levels and quality, and human error. Air and water contamination are the leading factors for hydraulic failure (York Precision, 2021).  According to York Precision approximately, "80-90% of hydraulic failures are due to the air contamination" (York Precision, 2021). There are two types of air contamination, one is cavitation, and the other is aeration. Cavitation is when the pump implodes, causing damage to the pumps over time. Typically, you can identify this type of contamination if there is a whining noise within your aircraft. Aeration is when air enters the pump cavity from an outside source (York Precision, 2021). If the hydraulic system becomes too hot or too cold, it could cause fluid thinning or fluid thickening. Fluid thinning prevents the lubrication process (York Precision, 2021).  Fluid thickening increases the viscosity of the oil making it harder for the oil to reach the pumps. 

    Fluid levels and quality can affect the hydraulic system and performance. If the levels are low, then the filtration can result in air contamination (York Precision, 2021). As we learned before air contamination could then lead to leaks within the system and would affect the performance and functionality of the hydraulic system. Finally, human error is the base cause for hydraulic system problems. Faulty installations of any component could result in severe issues. An example would be if the pump shaft was placed incorrectly, and it was rotating the wrong direction. Improper maintenance is crucial due to all the component and pressure in this particular type of system. Checking of the motor, pump, fluids, valves, and lines are in the maintenance policies and regulations.              


Resources 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Aircraft Systems Chapter 7. Retrieved from 

    PHAK Chapter 7 (faa.gov).

Machinery Lubrication. (20, January 2019). Hydraulic Systems and Fluid Selection. Retrieved January           28, 2022, from Hydraulic Systems and Fluid Selection (machinerylubrication.com)  

York Precision. (08, June 2021). Most Common Causes of Hydraulic System Failure. Retrieved from

     Most Common Causes of Hydraulic Systems Failure | YorkPMH

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