Incident Summary
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing through 1,000 feet, the pilot reported an electrical fire and a partial loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to extend the landing gear using either the normal or emergency methods due to hydraulic fluid loss from fire-damaged hydraulic lines. With the gear off the uplocks but not down and locked, the pilot executed a landing on a road.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that a fuel line exiting the fuel strainer, located in the nose landing gear wheel well, had a pinhole-sized hole. This hole was caused by chafing against an electrical wire bundle that crossed the fuel line. The chafing damaged the insulation covering the wires, and fuel that contacted the wires was ignited, resulting in the fire.
Consequences
The fire caused damage to hydraulic lines, leading to the loss of hydraulic fluid and subsequent failure of the landing gear extension systems. The aircraft sustained fire damage, but no further details on the extent of damage or injuries were provided in the source.