1978 Mooney M20J (Missile STC)
TTA: 3718.8
Over the last 4 flights, when reducing power from a high throttle setting, the gear up warning horn would sound, sometimes when power was above 20 inHg
As power was further reduced, the gear up warning honr would silence, usually around 18 in Hg of manifold pressure
With further power reduction, the gear up warning horn would sound, usually around 15-16 inHg of manifold pressure
The gear warning horn sounded twice (horn alert on, off, then on) on two of the last four flights
Immediately prior to the gear inidciation issue manifesting, A&P installed a manual tachometer and engine manifold pressure gauge that I had had removed during an avionics upgrade two years ago
Post maintenance check flight after the reinstallation of the gauges was nominal (all gear lights operated normally)
Gear Unsafe WCA (Warning/Caution/Advisory) illuminated on the panel when gear were in transit
Gear Down WCA illuminated once the gear were fully down and the Gear Unsafe WCA extinguished at the same time
The floor mounted gear position indicator (FMGPI) indicated gear down and the backlight under the plexiglass was illuminated
During the next flight (2.0 hours) none of the lights illuminated when the gear was lowered
No gear unsafe WCA, no gear down WCA, no backlight in the FMGPI
The actual gear position off the FMGPI indicated gear was down (two black lines aligned as normal)
Waived off, entered the overhead delta, retracted the gear
No gear unsafe WCA, the FMGPI indicated the gear were up
All CBs were in
Emergency gear handle was stowed and locked
Instrument panel dimmer switch was off
In the overhead delta, I once again lowered the gear
Runtime of gear motor and mechanical thunk were consistent with gear down and locked
However, the Gear Unsafe WCA did not illuminate while the gear were in transit and the Gear Down WCA did not illuminate once the gear were down nor did the FMGPI backlight illuminate
FMGPI indicated gear were down (two black lines aligned)
Landing was uneventful
A&P and I inspected area around the engine tachometer and manifold pressure (installed just to the left of the CB panel)
No loose wires
Noted 7 of 8 round wires attached in the vicinity of the upper glare shield cross brace (just to the right of the center panel mounted upper avionics stack)
Same as when we commenced the installation of the gauges
Put the aircraft on jacks
Lowered the gear
Noted no power to FMGPI backlight
With the gear down and locked, A&P wiggled one of the wires attached to the throttle mounted microswitch
Gear Down WCA illuminated and FMGPI backlight illuminated
Raised the gear
Gear Down WCA extinguished
Gear Unsafe WCA posted while gear was in transit
FMGPI light extinguished
Lowered the gear; all three lights worked as they should
Wiggled the wire again and the Gear Down WCA and FMGPI backlight extinguished
A&P thought the connector was loose inside the throttle mounted microswitch
Replaced throttle mounted microswitch with PART: 480-2877-ND
DESC: SWITCH SNAP ACTION SPDT 15A 125V MFG : HONEYWELL SENSING AND PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTIONS / V3-1 from DigiKey.com
All gear lights were inop regardless of gear position
It was quitting time so we couldn’t even wiggle some wires
Does anyone have any idea what may be happening?
Does anyone have the wiring diagram for the circuit that includes the throttle position microswitch, gear WCAs and FMGPI backlight?
Any thoughts and insights would be appreciated.