Incident Details
The pilot initiated a local night flight. Shortly after departure, the landing gear handle failed to return to the neutral position within the expected timeframe, and the 'gear up' annunciator light did not illuminate. To assess the gear status, the pilot flew past the airport tower, where observers confirmed that the nose gear appeared extended, the main landing gear doors were open, and the main gear did not appear to be in its normal position.
Maintenance Attempts
In an effort to rectify the situation, the pilot attempted to activate the emergency hydraulic gear pump. However, the pump handle broke during the activation attempt. The pilot then contacted his maintenance provider, who suggested several procedures to secure the main landing gear in the down and locked position. Despite following these recommendations, the pilot was unable to achieve a positive lock.
Landing
With the gear still not properly locked, the pilot decided to land on a snow-covered ski strip. During the touchdown in a nose-high attitude, the lower portion of the right vertical stabilizer and the right rudder sustained damage.
Examination
A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed a leaking seal in a gear actuator, which was identified as the source of the hydraulic issue.