Incident Overview
During a takeoff roll from Johnson County Executive Airport, the pilot in command reported that the left landing gear collapsed. The aircraft subsequently impacted the runway surface and veered off into soft terrain.
Inspection Findings
Post-incident inspection revealed that when electrical power was initiated with the landing gear switch in the down position, the landing gear retracted. However, repeated attempts after the initial test could not duplicate this condition. Additionally, the pilot stated that just before rotation, the gear collapsed. In both instances, the squat switch was not engaged.
Cockpit Indications
The pilot reported that prior to the main gear collapse, only normal gear down and locked indications were present in the cockpit.
Investigation Notes
The circumstances surrounding the gear collapse and the observed retraction during electrical power application suggest an anomaly in the landing gear system, though the condition could not be replicated in subsequent tests.