NAS77-3-023 – Textron Aviation OEM Headed Steel Sleeve Bushing
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Overview
The NAS77-3-023 is a high-quality, flanged (or "headed") sleeve bushing, manufactured to the National Aerospace Standard and supplied with the full certification and traceability of Textron Aviation as an OEM component. This is not a simple spacer; it is a precision-machined bearing designed to be press-fit into a flight-critical component, such as a flight control bellcrank or landing gear linkage, to provide a durable, replaceable, low-friction surface for a pivot pin or bolt.
This component is manufactured from high-strength carbon steel and plated with cadmium for corrosion resistance. The integral flange serves as a positive stop during installation and as a thrust-bearing surface, controlling axial movement and preventing wear on the parent component. As a sacrificial part, it is designed to wear over time, protecting the more expensive and complex structural component into which it is installed. Using the genuine OEM part ensures the correct material and precise dimensions required for a proper interference fit and airworthy repair.
Key Features
Genuine Textron Aviation OEM Part: Guarantees the part is the factory-specified and fully certified component, ensuring correct performance and airworthiness.
NAS77 Standard Compliance: Manufactured in strict accordance with the National Aerospace Standard for headed, press-fit bushings.
Flanged (Headed) Design: The integral flange provides a positive stop during installation and acts as a built-in thrust washer to accommodate axial loads and prevent side-to-side wear.
High-Strength Carbon Steel: Machined from a specific grade of carbon steel, heat-treated for high compressive strength and wear resistance.
Press-Fit Installation: The outside diameter is precision-ground to a tolerance that creates a secure interference fit when pressed into a correctly sized hole.
Sacrificial Wear Component: Intentionally designed to be the primary wear item in a pivoting joint, protecting more costly flight control and landing gear components from wear and elongation.
Technical Specifications
Part Number: NAS77-3-023
Component Type: Flanged Sleeve Bushing (Headed, Press-Fit)
OEM Authority: Textron Aviation
Governing Specification: NAS77
Material: Carbon Steel
Finish: Cadmium Plated per QQ-P-416
Nominal Inside Diameter (for pin/bolt): 3/16 inch (0.1875 inches).
Length (under flange): 23/32 inch (0.719 inches).
Aircraft Compatibility
As a Textron Aviation OEM part and a NAS standard, this bushing is used in numerous pivoting joints on their aircraft fleet and across the general aviation industry.
Primary Textron Aviation Platforms:
Cessna Piston Aircraft (100, 200 Series)
Beechcraft Piston Aircraft (Bonanza, Baron)
Other models as specified in the IPC.
General Aerospace Usage: Common in the flight control systems and landing gear of many general aviation aircraft.
Note: Verification of applicability is the responsibility of the installer. Always consult the current version of the aircraft's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) to confirm part number eligibility for a specific location.
Applications
Sole Application: To provide a replaceable, low-friction bearing surface in flight control system components, such as:
Aileron, elevator, and rudder bellcranks.
Push-pull rod ends.
Control surface hinges and linkages where a 3/16" bolt or pin is used.
Why Choose this NAS77-3-023?
The feel and responsiveness of an aircraft's flight controls are directly related to the precision of its linkages. Worn bushings create "slop" or free play, which can lead to control surface flutter and unsafe handling characteristics. The genuine OEM NAS77-3-023 bushing is the only part guaranteed to have the precise outside diameter for a proper press-fit and the correct material properties. Using a non-certified bushing can result in a loose fit, leading to rapid wear of the parent component, or an overly tight fit, which can damage the component during installation.
The installation of a press-fit bushing like the NAS77-3-023 is a precision structural task that culminates in a final machining operation. The outside diameter of the bushing is manufactured to be slightly larger than the hole into which it is installed, creating a specified "interference." This interference is critical for creating a high radial pressure that locks the bushing in place via friction, preventing it from rotating within the parent material. However, this installation process elastically and plastically deforms the bushing, causing its inside diameter to shrink slightly and unpredictably. Therefore, the final, critical step after pressing the bushing into place is to use a precision, piloted reamer to machine the inside diameter to its final, exact dimension (e.g., 0.1900" +/- .0005"). This reaming process ensures the hole is perfectly round, concentric with the parent component's hole, and provides the correct close-tolerance running fit for the pivot bolt or pin, which is essential for eliminating play from the flight control system.
Note: This is a flight-critical component. It is a wear item subject to periodic inspection for looseness and excessive wear. Removal of the old bushing and installation of the new one are press-fit operations that require specialized tooling (arbors and a press) and must be performed by a certified A&P mechanic in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual. The inside diameter must be reamed to its final specified dimension after installation.
Documentation
The National Aerospace Standard governing this part is publicly available. OEM-specific application and installation data is contained within the Textron Aviation maintenance and parts manuals.
Defense Logistics Agency - NAS77 Document: https://everyspec.com/NAS/NAS-0-99/NAS77_55756/