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D23596000-3 – Airbus Nose Landing Gear Forestay Assembly for A320 Aircraft
Available now on the Airparts.aero Marketplace.
Overview
The Airbus D23596000-3 is a flight-critical nose landing gear (NLG) forestay assembly, a primary structural linkage engineered for the entire Airbus A320 family of aircraft. This is not a simple support rod; it is a fatigue-rated, high-strength component that forms an essential part of the landing gear's kinematic system for retraction, extension, and locking. Manufactured by OEM suppliers like Safran Landing Systems, the D23596000-3 forestay is designed to transfer all longitudinal loads (drag and spring-back forces) from the main shock strut to the airframe and to act as a critical tension member in the gear's geometric downlock mechanism. Its integrity is fundamental to the safe and reliable operation of the landing gear.
The robust design of the forestay ensures the NLG remains securely locked during all ground operations, from high-speed takeoffs and landings to tight taxiway turns. It is meticulously engineered to handle the immense and complex loads generated during these phases of flight, providing the structural stability that is a cornerstone of the A320's proven safety record.
Key Features
Primary Structural Linkage: Serves as a main load-bearing structural link that transfers all fore-and-aft drag and braking loads from the nose gear shock strut into the reinforced structure of the fuselage wheel well.
Geometric Locking Component: Forms the critical "over-center" tension link in the geometric downlock mechanism. The precise length of this assembly is what ensures the gear is rigidly locked in the down position, preventing any possibility of an inadvertent retraction on the ground.
Ultra-High-Strength Alloy Construction: Forged and machined from an ultra-high-strength, certified aerospace alloy (typically a high-strength aluminum like 7075-T73 or steel like 300M) for an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and superior fatigue life.
Precision Bearings & Bushings: The pivot points of the forestay are fitted with precision spherical bearings or specialized bushings. These are essential for allowing the assembly to articulate smoothly and without play as the landing gear travels through its complex retraction arc.
Non-Destructive Tested (NDT): As a flight-critical structural component, each forestay is subjected to 100% Non-Destructive Testing, such as ultrasonic or eddy current inspection, to guarantee it is free from any microscopic cracks or material flaws.
Technical Specifications
Part Number: D23596000-3
Component Type: Nose Landing Gear (NLG) Forestay / Drag Brace / Tension Strut
OEM Manufacturer (Typical): Safran Landing Systems
Material: High-Strength, Fatigue-Rated Aerospace Alloy
Primary Function: Transfers drag loads; acts as a structural lock link in the kinematic chain.
Inspection: 100% NDT Inspected; serialized and fully traceable.
Certification: EASA / FAA Production Approval
Aircraft Compatibility
The D23596000-3 is the specified OEM nose gear forestay for the entire best-selling Airbus A320 family of narrow-body airliners, covering both Current Engine Option (ceo) and New Engine Option (neo) variants.
Primary Aircraft Models:
Airbus A318
Airbus A319 (ceo/neo)
Airbus A320 (ceo/neo)
Airbus A321 (ceo/neo)
Applications
The D23596000-3 is a flight-critical component with two vital roles:
Landing & Ground Operations: Prevents the nose gear from collapsing backward under the immense drag loads of touchdown and braking.
Mandatory Overhaul/Replacement Item: This is a life-limited or on-condition structural component that must be meticulously inspected for cracks, corrosion, or bearing wear at specified intervals and replaced in accordance with the aircraft's maintenance program.
Why Choose D23596000-3?
The failure of a landing gear lock link or drag brace during landing would be catastrophic, leading to a complete collapse of the nose gear. The D23596000-3 is an engineered and certified solution designed to prevent such a failure. Using a genuine, fully traceable OEM part is the only way to ensure the component has the certified material strength, fatigue life, and inspection history required for this application. For a primary structural component this critical to safety, there is absolutely no substitute.
The D23596000-3 forestay is a key element of the landing gear's kinematic system, often forming one side of a "four-bar linkage." During retraction, a hydraulic actuator pulls on the linkage, breaking the "over-center" geometric lock and causing the forestay and other braces to fold. This folding action pulls the main shock strut upward and forward into the gear bay. During extension, the process is reversed. As the gear is pushed by the actuator into the down position, the forestay unfolds until it forms a rigid, straight line with its mating lock link. At this point, the center pivot moves slightly "over-center," creating a geometric lock that cannot be broken by aft-acting drag loads; it can only be unlocked by the specific motion of the retraction actuator. The structural integrity of the forestay is what maintains this critical lock. The use of spherical bearings at the pivot points is essential to accommodate minor torsional and transverse movements without inducing damaging bending stress into the link, which is designed to handle purely axial loads (tension and compression).
Note: This is a flight-critical, often serialized and life-limited structural component. Installation, rigging, and all maintenance actions must be performed by certified AME or A&P mechanics holding the appropriate ratings and in strict accordance with the current Airbus maintenance manual. All associated bearings and hardware should be inspected and replaced as required during installation.
