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PA31 pilot could not raise the nose landing gear after takeoff. Attempts to raise or lower the nose gear by all available means were unsuccessful. On landing the nose gear collapsed followed shortly by the left main gear.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 947052 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201104 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Climb Takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Nose Gear |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 1930 Flight Crew Type 350 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
On initial climb out on an IFR flight plan it was noted that the gear 'not locked' indicator light remained on after the gear selector was raised. Tower relayed to approach confirmation that the gear remained down. Visual of nose wheel through the mirror showed the gear apparently not fully extended. Gear selector was recycled. Movement or vibration was felt beneath the pilot and copilot's seats but the 'not locked' light remained on and the nose gear remained partially extended. Multiple attempts at recycling both upward and downward were made without success. Request was made to return for a low pass. Attempts at pumping the gear down with the hand operated pump were made. The nose wheel did not change position. Pressure did not build in the pump. Another low pass was made and the tower reported that the main gear 'appeared' down and that the nose wheel was at a 45 degree position. IFR was then canceled and at 2000 ft slow flight was performed once more in order to pump the gear in either direction -- up or down. The nose wheel would neither extend or retract from its 45 degree position. Emergency was declared with tower and passengers were prepared. A full flap; slow approach was made. Once over threshold; mixtures were brought to cutoff. Final shut off valves were lifted to off and fuel selectors were turned to off. Master switch was turned off. Initial touchdown was made on the main gear with a slightly nose-up attitude. Once the nose gear contacted the ground; it collapsed. Immediately afterwards; the left main gear collapsed; sending the aircraft into a left skidding turn. The aircraft came to a rest in the grass next to the runway. All passengers evacuated safely and uninjured. Emergency landing gear extension and 'gear-up' landing were performed according to the poh.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA31 pilot could not raise the nose landing gear after takeoff. Attempts to raise or lower the nose gear by all available means were unsuccessful. On landing the nose gear collapsed followed shortly by the left main gear.
Narrative: On initial climb out on an IFR flight plan it was noted that the gear 'Not Locked' indicator light remained on after the gear selector was raised. Tower relayed to Approach confirmation that the gear remained down. Visual of nose wheel through the mirror showed the gear apparently not fully extended. Gear selector was recycled. Movement or vibration was felt beneath the pilot and copilot's seats but the 'Not Locked' light remained on and the nose gear remained partially extended. Multiple attempts at recycling both upward and downward were made without success. Request was made to return for a low pass. Attempts at pumping the gear down with the hand operated pump were made. The nose wheel did not change position. Pressure did not build in the pump. Another low pass was made and the Tower reported that the main gear 'appeared' down and that the nose wheel was at a 45 degree position. IFR was then canceled and at 2000 FT slow flight was performed once more in order to pump the gear in either direction -- up or down. The nose wheel would neither extend or retract from its 45 degree position. Emergency was declared with Tower and passengers were prepared. A full flap; slow approach was made. Once over threshold; mixtures were brought to cutoff. Final shut off valves were lifted to off and fuel selectors were turned to off. Master switch was turned off. Initial touchdown was made on the main gear with a slightly nose-up attitude. Once the nose gear contacted the ground; it collapsed. Immediately afterwards; the left main gear collapsed; sending the aircraft into a left skidding turn. The aircraft came to a rest in the grass next to the runway. All passengers evacuated safely and uninjured. Emergency landing gear extension and 'Gear-Up' landing were performed according to the POH.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.