Incident Summary
Following a normal approach and landing, the pilot initiated post-landing procedures while taxiing. He raised the flaps, lowered the speed brakes, turned off the landing lights, and switched off the transponder. During this sequence, the pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear lever. Immediately afterward, both the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest supported by the left main gear, the nose, and the right wing.
Landing Gear System Description
According to the Federal Aviation Administration approved Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane, the landing gear operating system includes a cockpit control lever mechanically linked to a hydraulic sequence valve located aft of the rear baggage compartment. A spring-loaded electrically operated solenoid gate is designed to physically prevent the landing gear handle from being moved out of the down detent when weight is on the landing gear. The solenoid is energized to retract and allow the cockpit gear handle to move when a squat switch on the left main gear strut senses strut extension (indicating liftoff).
Post-Accident Examination
During repair of the airplane, the landing gear system was examined by Hov-Air, Inc., a maintenance repair facility familiar with the PA-46. The repair shop found that the cockpit gear handle and its linkage to the hydraulic sequence valve was out of rigging tolerance. Specifically, the rigging would not allow the gear selector lever handle to be in the full down position where the solenoid gate would block handle movement.