This weekend one of the bungee cords that serves as the shock absorving
element of the main landing gear of our SZD 50 Puchacz was found to be
broken. The symptom was a weird noise coming out the main wheel area
while the plane was taxiing back for a relaunch. The plane had a
uneventful landing moments before. Upon inspection the broken bungee
was aparent at the brake side of the main wheel. Seems that the brake
lever that goes up through the landing box has caused a premature
failure of the cord by repetitive attrition. Therefore, I advise all
Puchacz operators to inspect for the status of the bungees specially
the left one (looking tail to nose) each flight day for premature
wearing around the brake lever.
Also, the Puchacz can land with two people on just one bungee and
nobody will notice it...as long you grease in....