(a) If compliance with Sec. 23.723(a) is shown by free drop tests, these tests must be made on the complete airplane, or on units consisting of wheel, tire, and shock absorber, in their proper relation, from free drop heights not less than those determined by the following formula: h (inches)=3.6 (W/S) \1/2\ However, the free drop height may not be less than 9.2 inches and need not be more than 18.7 inches.
(b) If the effect of wing lift is provided for in free drop tests, the landing gear must be dropped with an effective weight equal to[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC28SE91.014 where-- We=the effective weight to be used in the drop test (lbs.);h=specified free drop height (inches);d=deflection under impact of the tire (at the approved inflation
pressure) plus the vertical component of the axle travel
relative to the drop mass (inches);W=WM for main gear units (lbs), equal to the static weight on that unit
with the airplane in the level attitude (with the nose wheel
clear in the case of nose wheel type airplanes);W=WT for tail gear units (lbs.), equal to the static weight on the tail
unit with the airplane in the tail-down attitude;W=WN for nose wheel units lbs.), equal to the vertical component of the
static reaction that would exist at the nose wheel, assuming
that the mass of the airplane acts at the center of gravity
and exerts a force of 1.0 g downward and 0.33 g forward; andL= the ratio of the assumed wing lift to the airplane weight, but not
more than 0.667.
(c) The limit inertia load factor must be determined in a rational or conservative manner, during the drop test, using a landing gear unit attitude, and applied drag loads, that represent the landing conditions.
(d) The value of d used in the computation of We in paragraph (b) of this section may not exceed the value actually obtained in the drop test.
(e) The limit inertia load factor must be determined from the drop test in paragraph (b) of this section according to the following formula:[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC28SE91.015 where-- nj=the load factor developed in the drop test (that is, the acceleration
(dv/dt) in gs recorded in the drop test) plus 1.0; andWe, W, and L are the same as in the drop test computation.
(f) The value of n determined in accordance with paragraph (e) may not be more than the limit inertia load factor used in the landing conditions in Sec. 23.473. [Doc. No. 4080, 29 FR 17955, Dec. 18, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 23-7, 34 FR 13091, Aug. 13, 1969; Amdt. 23-48, 61 FR 5148, Feb. 9, 1996]