Incident
Following takeoff, as the landing gear was being retracted, the aircrew observed that the left main landing gear (MLG) door warning light remained illuminated. The landing gear control was cycled, but the condition persisted. Attempts to extend the left MLG were unsuccessful.
Emergency Procedures
The aircraft performed a tower fly-by for visual inspection. Tower personnel reported that the nose and right MLG appeared fully extended, while the left MLG was only partially extended. The left MLG door was positioned at approximately 45 degrees. Subsequently, the crew executed a wheels-up landing.
Inspection Findings
After the aircraft was hoisted, the left MLG was found hanging down and wedged against the door. All gear were then fully extended, and the aircraft was towed from the runway. An examination revealed no discrepancies except that the left MLG door actuator mounting bolts and a serrated fitting were loose. The system malfunction could not be duplicated.
Safety Bar Limitation
The aircraft was equipped with an original production MLG safety bar intended to prevent interference between the door and gear during emergency extension without hydraulic pressure. However, this safety bar was not designed to withstand door closing pressures, which include both hydraulic and aerodynamic forces.