Incident Overview
A twin-engine airplane experienced a landing gear malfunction during approach, resulting in substantial damage when it landed with the main landing gear retracted. The incident occurred when, during the approach, only the nose landing gear extended; the main landing gear remained stowed in the wing wheel wells.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that when he attempted to lower the landing gear prior to landing, the main landing gear indicator lights remained unlit. He cycled the landing gear handle three times without effect. He then performed yawing and porpoising maneuvers in an attempt to dislodge the gear, but with no result. Following the manufacturer's emergency gear extension procedures, he actuated the nitrogen bottle, but the gear did not extend. A fly-by of the control tower was conducted, and controllers confirmed that the main gear were still in the wheel wells. The pilot also attempted to generate positive G-forces to force the gear down, but this was unsuccessful. Deciding to land with the nose gear down and the main gear up, on short final at 100 feet above ground level, he set the mixtures to idle cutoff. At 50 feet, he raised the flaps.
Landing and Aftermath
The airplane touched down on the runway with the nose gear extended and the main gear retracted. It skidded for 1,500 to 2,000 feet before the nose landing gear collapsed. Following the incident, during recovery operations, the airplane was lifted, and the main landing gear fell into the down and locked position.
Inspection
An inspection of the main landing gear did not reveal any anomalies that could explain the failure to extend. No mechanical or structural issues were identified.