Incident Overview
During approach to the destination, the landing gear failed to extend. The landing gear system is normally extended by hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically-powered hydraulic power pack. The pilot attempted to recycle the gear and employed the emergency gear extension procedure using a hand-operated emergency hydraulic pump, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
Pilot Actions and Findings
The pilot then checked the hydraulic fluid level in the reservoir and found it empty. He attempted to refill the reservoir with various available fluids, but this did not restore landing gear operation. A passenger succeeded in opening the cabin door and manually pulled the right main gear into the down-and-locked position. The pilot was able to pull the left main gear into the down position, but the left main gear would not lock down.
Diversion and Emergency Landing
The pilot diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX) and performed an emergency landing on runway 28R, an 8,000- by 150-foot grooved asphalt runway. During the emergency landing, upon touchdown the aircraft dropped to a 30-degree left wing down attitude, then turned 180 degrees to the left and came to rest in the grass alongside the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing.
Post-Accident Inspection
The pilot reported that a post-accident inspection revealed that a hydraulic line in the nose gear well had burst, resulting in a total loss of hydraulic fluid from the system.