What happened
The flight was proceeding under instrument meteorological conditions, characterized by low ceilings, drizzle, and fog, as the pilot initiated an instrument approach to the airport. During this phase of the operation, the aircraft's electrical system experienced a failure. Despite the electrical issues, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear; however, the mechanism did not fully extend. The aircraft subsequently touched down on the runway with the gear in an incomplete position, resulting in the collapse of the landing gear upon impact.
The investigation
Following the accident, authorities examined the mechanical and electrical systems of the aircraft to determine the root cause of the incident. The FAA conducted a thorough inspection and reported finding an electrically shorted alternator. This component failure was identified as the primary reason for the loss of electrical power that prevented the landing gear from extending properly.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates that the electrical system failure directly contributed to the inability to deploy the landing gear correctly. The presence of instrument meteorological conditions required reliance on instruments and systems, making the electrical outage critical. The shorted alternator was confirmed as the mechanical fault responsible for the power loss.