Event Description
After takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the pilot raised the landing gear lever. The green landing gear down annunciator light remained illuminated. The pilot then moved the gear lever back to the down position and returned to the airport to visually check the landing gear. Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear retracted. The aircraft skidded down the runway, turning 180 degrees to the left, and came to rest on the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
The right main hydraulic landing gear actuator, part number 1281000-1 and serial number 1039, was sent to the NTSB's Materials Laboratory for examination. For comparison, a second hydraulic actuator (part number 1281000-1, serial number 1790) that had been damaged due to overstressing from a previous off-airport landing was also sent to the laboratory. Both actuator housing assemblies exhibited similar longitudinal fractures in their respective housings. Both housings were bulged outward near the midpoint of the longitudinal fracture. Examination of the fractures using a scanning electron microscope revealed that the fracture characteristics were typical of an overstress separation. Neither actuator showed evidence of progressive cracking.