A merlin IIIA in cruise at 17800 ft diverted due to the left landing gear falling out to the extend position and the stability augmentation system inputting jerks into the controls.

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Attributes
ACN	387274
Time
Date	199711
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zme
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17800 msl bound upper : 17800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Merlin III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	387274
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at 17800 ft, I felt a bump in-flight. After scanning the panel I discovered the left main gear had fallen into the locked position. I determined this situation necessitated a diversion to lit for a precautionary landing and maintenance. While descending into lit, I started to get jerks on the control column. Not certain of the cause and since I already had 1 problem I decided to take the first and closest runway which happen to be an AFB. After reviewing circumstances I determined the stability augmentation system was receiving bad information and putting jerks to the controls.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MERLIN IIIA IN CRUISE AT 17800 FT DIVERTED DUE TO THE L LNDG GEAR FALLING OUT TO THE EXTEND POS AND THE STABILITY AUGMENTATION SYS INPUTTING JERKS INTO THE CTLS.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT 17800 FT, I FELT A BUMP INFLT. AFTER SCANNING THE PANEL I DISCOVERED THE L MAIN GEAR HAD FALLEN INTO THE LOCKED POS. I DETERMINED THIS SIT NECESSITATED A DIVERSION TO LIT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AND MAINT. WHILE DSNDING INTO LIT, I STARTED TO GET JERKS ON THE CTL COLUMN. NOT CERTAIN OF THE CAUSE AND SINCE I ALREADY HAD 1 PROB I DECIDED TO TAKE THE FIRST AND CLOSEST RWY WHICH HAPPEN TO BE AN AFB. AFTER REVIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES I DETERMINED THE STABILITY AUGMENTATION SYS WAS RECEIVING BAD INFO AND PUTTING JERKS TO THE CTLS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.