Incident Overview
A pilot flying a Piper PA-24 on a local flight encountered landing gear problems shortly after takeoff. The pilot reported that after becoming airborne, he raised the landing gear switch, but the airplane settled back onto the runway. He then became airborne again but could not obtain a safe landing gear indication.
Emergency Actions
After the initial takeoff attempt, the pilot used the emergency extension system for the landing gear. Despite this effort, he was still unable to confirm a down-and-locked indication. Faced with the uncertainty of the gear position, the pilot decided to land on the grass adjacent to the runway.
Outcome
Upon touchdown on the grass, the landing gear collapsed. The incident resulted in damage to the aircraft. No further details about injuries or aircraft condition were provided in the source.