Incident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine airplane encountered a landing gear malfunction while on approach to runway 6. After lowering the landing gear at an airspeed below 140 knots and extending the flaps, the pilot observed through the landing gear mirror that the left main landing gear appeared abnormal. Despite the gear position indicator lights showing all green, indicating the gear was down and locked, the pilot decided to abort the approach and climb out to the west of the airport.
Actions Taken
The pilot cycled the landing gear four to five times in an attempt to resolve the issue. Although the left gear could be made to swing, it could not be fully extended into the locked position. To verify the gear configuration, the pilot executed a low approach over the airfield, allowing personnel on the ground to visually inspect the gear. After approximately one hour in the air, the pilot retracted the landing gear and performed a belly landing on runway 18.
Post-Inspection
Examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the saddle was cracked through. No other anomalies were found during the inspection.