Why must gear retraction be limited by a torque or speed limit?

• A. To prevent over-stressing the structure or gear mechanisms during movement
• B. To keep gear fully retracted in flight
• C. To increase airspeed
• D. To allow automatic retraction during turbulence

Answer: (A)

Limiting gear retraction by torque and by speed keeps the gear drive within the loads the structure and mechanisms were designed to handle. When the gear retracts, the wheels, doors, links, pins, and the gear door actuators all experience transient forces as the gear swings into the bay and the doors close. If the drive applies too much torque, or moves too quickly, those parts can be overstressed, misaligned, or damaged, and the doors might slam or bind. A torque limit prevents overload on the gears, shafts, and linkages, while a speed limit smooths the motion, avoids excessive dynamic loads, and helps the sequence of retraction—so the doors and locking mechanisms engage reliably without sudden shocks.

Keeping those limits in check is not about staying retracted in flight, increasing airspeed, or automatically retracting during turbulence. It’s about protecting the mechanical integrity and ensuring a safe, controlled retraction sequence.