What happened
The pilot reported an inability to completely extend the aircraft's landing gear, attempting both electric and manual extension methods without success. Consequently, the aircraft landed with the landing gear only partially extended.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the airframe revealed that the landing gear extension mechanism was binding within the tunnel located between the two front seats. This obstruction prevented full deployment. Mechanics noted that pulling on the landing gear components allowed them to free up and operate normally after the incident.
Further inspection of the aircraft's maintenance records indicated a significant contributing factor: the aircraft had been landed gear-up approximately 125 hours prior to this accident. That earlier event caused substantial damage to the belly structure and the landing gear motor mounting area. The specific point where the mechanism was binding showed deep scarring, indicating that the components had been rubbing against each other for some time due to the previous structural deformation.
Findings
The investigation determined that the partial extension was not a random mechanical failure but the result of accumulated damage. The deeply scarred contact point suggested long-term interference caused by the misalignment from the prior incident. This physical obstruction ultimately prevented the gear from locking into the down and locked position.