What is the consequence of a failure to properly interlock the gear doors with the extension/retraction cycle?

• A. Gears could be damaged if retraction occurs with doors not fully closed/open.
• B. No danger.
• C. Rebalances weight.
• D. Increases drag.

Answer: (A)

Interlock between the gear doors and the extension/retraction cycle is used to ensure the doors are in the correct position and locked before the gear moves. This sequencing prevents hardware interference between the door panels and the gear as it stows or extends.

If that interlock fails and retraction occurs while a door is not fully closed or fully open, the moving gear can collide with a door panel. That interference can bend or break the door, damage the door hinges or seals, and even injure the gear itself or its actuators. In short, the gear system and its doors aren’t aligned for movement, so mechanical damage is the real risk.

While a door that’s not properly timed might also add aerodynamic drag, the primary consequence here is damage to the gears and door components. The option describing “no danger” isn’t correct, and issues like weight rebalancing aren’t relevant to this failure mode.