History of Flight
On October 3, 2009, at approximately 1930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registration N8809C, sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing at Columbus County Municipal Airport (CPC) in Whiteville, North Carolina. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which had originated at CPC at 1730 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
A witness, a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic working at the airport, observed the airplane maneuvering. The pilot contacted the airport manager by cellular telephone and then spoke directly with the mechanic. The pilot reported a complete loss of electrical power and was unable to lower the landing gear. Several attempts using the emergency procedures from the Pilot's Operating Handbook were unsuccessful. Despite a weak telephone connection, the mechanic believed they reviewed the procedure correctly, but the gear would not deploy.
After approximately 90 minutes of maneuvering and troubleshooting, the pilot announced low fuel and diminishing daylight, and decided to land gear-up. The mechanic advised landing on the pavement rather than grass. The witness observed the airplane at low altitude over the approach end of the runway when the pilot "chopped the power." He noted that the power was cut too high, resulting in insufficient flare speed and a hard touchdown.
The pilot provided a similar account, stating that two different emergency landing gear procedures failed. After deciding on a gear-up landing, he entered a left-hand traffic pattern and followed the checklist for gear-up landing procedures.
Personnel Information
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued in January 2008. He reported 320 total flight hours, with 88 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1976 and had accrued 3,902 total aircraft hours. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on November 20, 2008, at 3,882 total aircraft hours.
Meteorological Information
At 1934, the weather at CPC reported clear skies, wind from 190 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 24°C, and dew point 19°C.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination at the scene revealed substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and empennage. During recovery, the airplane was raised and the landing gear "just came down by itself," according to the mechanic.
Detailed examination by the mechanic found that the air conditioning compressor had seized, causing the compressor belt to break, which subsequently fouled the alternator belt. Once the alternator belt broke, battery power was exhausted, leading to a complete electrical failure.
On October 5, 2009, an FAA aviation safety inspector examined the airplane and confirmed the damage and the mechanic's diagnosis of the original malfunction. Examination of the landing gear showed that with electrical power applied, the gear operated normally. However, with power removed, the "emergency down valve"—which allows the gear to free-fall—was stuck and would not release hydraulic pressure to lower the gear. When the hydraulic line was opened, the pressure released and the gear lowered as designed. The mechanic stated, "We concluded the valve was stopped up internally and did not release pressure when actuated. We did not remove the valve or have it tested."
Additional Information
The Piper Cherokee Six/Lance Service manual specifies that inspection of the entire landing gear system with operational checks should be performed every 100 flight hours. The airplane had accrued only 20 flight hours in the nearly 10.5 months since its last annual inspection.