Event Details
Two days after an annual inspection, the pilot attempted to start the airplane. Upon activating the master switch, the landing gear warning horn sounded. The pilot checked the landing gear and found it down and locked with the squat switches depressed. With both avionics master switches turned on, the warning horn stopped, the instrument panel lights activated, and the landing gear down-and-locked green light illuminated. The pilot then flew the airplane home with the landing gear extended.
The following day, the pilot flew to an avionics shop with the landing gear still extended. During inspection, a shorted terminal in the breaker box was found and repaired. On the return flight to home base, the landing gear system functioned normally.
Five days later, the pilot attempted to start the engine but found the battery dead. After a jump start, the avionics failed during the initial climb of takeoff. The pilot recycled the avionics master switch, but power to the avionics was not restored. The pilot returned and landed without further issues. The battery was removed, recharged, and replaced.
Subsequent Flight and Accident
The pilot noted that everything functioned properly after the battery replacement and decided to continue the flight. During the takeoff roll, the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid down the runway, and eventually the left main landing gear also collapsed.
An FAA inspector noted structural damage to the airframe. Maintenance personnel inspected the landing gear and electrical system but found no discrepancies. They replaced a weak battery and cycled the landing gear several times. They were unable to reproduce the discrepancy encountered by the pilot during the accident takeoff roll.