Engine Failure and Pilot Actions
About 45 minutes into the flight, the left engine began to sputter. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; when it did not restart, he secured it and flew toward an alternate airport. Prior to reaching the airport, he moved the landing gear handle to the DOWN position, but the gear did not extend. He then tried the primary emergency landing gear system (hand pump), which also failed. Subsequently, he activated the secondary emergency extension system (CO2 blow down tank) by pulling the emergency gear extension ring. The CO2 tank discharged, but only the right main landing gear extended.
Forced Landing
The pilot reported that with the drag from the partially extended gear, they were not going to make the airport. He executed a forced landing in an open field with rough, uneven terrain.
Fuel Examination
The pilot stated he believed there were 30 gallons of fuel in each tank. Recovery personnel noted that the fuel cells were not breached, fuel lines were intact, and no fuel was visible on the ground surrounding the airplane. They recovered 15 gallons from the right outboard fuel tank and 15 gallons from the right inboard fuel tank. Thirty gallons were drained from the left wing outboard fuel tank, while no fuel was found in the left wing inboard fuel tank.
Manufacturer's Guidance
The manufacturer's owner's manual indicates that if the left engine fails, the hydraulic pump (driven by the left engine) will not function, so the emergency landing gear extension system must be used. The pilot must place the landing gear lever in the DOWN position, fully extend the hand pump handle, and pump the emergency gear handle up and down 30–40 strokes to lower the gear. Additionally, the CO2 tank can be used for emergency extension, but the landing gear selector must be in the DOWN position for proper gas porting.
Post-Accident Inspection
The airframe, left engine, and landing gear were inspected. The fuel injector manifold was removed and disassembled, revealing no fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel lines from the left wing to the left engine. No discrepancies were noted with the left engine's internal mechanical continuity. Investigators observed that the emergency gear handle was pulled out about 2 inches and not fully extended, and the emergency gear extender ring for the CO2 system appeared to be pulled out. The hydraulic system lines were intact, and clean hydraulic fluid was found in the power pack and the hydraulic system filter was clean.