If the nose landing gear strut extends near its limit with the wheels turned more than how many degrees, centering cams can be damaged?

• A. 5
• B. 15
• C. 10
• D. 20

Answer: (C)

When the nose landing gear strut is near full extension, the geometry leaves little room for additional movement. If the wheels are steered more than ten degrees in that condition, the sideways force can push against the centering cams the gear uses to align and center itself for retraction. The cam surfaces and followers are designed for normal steering angles with ample strut travel; beyond this small limit, the load and contact can cause binding, wear, or even damage to the cam surfaces. That’s why the limit is ten degrees: keeping wheel turn within that range prevents stressing the centering cams and helps ensure reliable retraction and centering. If you ever find wheel steering approaching that angle with the strut extended, reduce steering input and consult maintenance if anything unusual is observed.