Aircraft landing gear swivel locking pin having automatic release and reengage

A locking pin for an aircraft landing gear, the landing gear having an upper portion and a lower portion mounted to said upper portion, said lower portion being mounted for rotation with respect to said upper portion, said locking pin comprising:

• a bushing to be mounted to one of said portions;
• a lock pin assembly adapted to be mounted to the other of said portions, said assembly having an anti-friction member mounted thereto for engagement with said bushing, said lower portion adapted to being held in fixed relation to said upper portion in response to said locking pin being in an engaged position wherein said member is engaged with said bushing, said lower portion adapted to being free to rotate with respect to said upper portion in response to said locking pin being in a released position wherein said member is not engaged with said bushing;
• a handle assembly operatively connected to said lock pin assembly and having an operator engageable handle for local operation of said lock pin assembly;
• resilient means for applying a spring force to said handle assembly, said handle assembly applying a force to said lock pin assembly for urging said member in contact with said bushing in response to said spring force, said handle assembly repositioning said lock pin assembly to said released position in response to force being applied to said operator engageable handle;
• a gear drive mechanism connected to said lock pin assembly and responsive to signals provided by a pilot actuatable switch for positioning said lock pin assembly between said engaged position and said released position, and
• said locking pin automatically repositioning from said engaged position to said released position in response to a lateral force applied to said lower portion in excess of a threshold force, the magnitude of said threshold force being related to said actuator means force applied to said lock pin assembly.