Incident Overview
A pilot experienced landing gear anomalies during a cross-country flight, ultimately resulting in a landing short of the runway. The aircraft had earlier undergone gear maintenance following a retraction issue during the initial takeoff climb.
Sequence of Events
On the initial takeoff departure climb, the landing gear would not retract. The pilot returned to the departure airport, where a mechanic examined the gear, serviced the struts, and performed a retraction test involving three consecutive gear extensions and retractions. Satisfied with the test, the flight subsequently departed on a cross-country journey with a planned refueling stop.
During the approach to the destination airport, the gear would not extend. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft and executed emergency gear extension procedures, but the gear would not move beyond half extension. On final approach, the pilot shut down the engine, and the airplane landed short of the runway.
Findings
An FAA inspector and a mechanic examined the aircraft and found that the slide tubes on the main landing gear had accumulated a significant amount of dirt, causing binding during normal operation. This binding consistently caused the gear electric motor circuit breaker to pop. The gear could be manually extended by the inspector and mechanic. The flight time since the last annual inspection was 57 hours.