Pilot Report
The pilot reported that during the initial climb he retracted the landing gear normally. A few minutes later, the radios went blank. Believing he had a radio problem, he decided to return to the airport. On the return, he moved the landing gear selector to the down position, but the three gear-down indicator lights did not illuminate. He circled a few miles east of the airport to troubleshoot.
The pilot reported that he cycled the master switch and the radio master a couple of times with no results. The airplane was equipped with an automatic gear extension system. He verified that the override switch was not engaged, fully extended the flaps, and slowed the airplane to 85 knots. Believing the landing gear was down, he returned for landing.
During touchdown, the left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed (or were not extended). The airplane veered off the runway into dirt, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. In a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he believed he had a total electrical failure.
Witness Statement
A witness who lives on the airport property observed the airplane depart. About five minutes later, he saw the airplane return for landing. The witness reported that the landing gear were retracted until the point at which the pilot began the landing flare over the runway. When the airplane was about five feet above the runway, each landing gear began to extend, but the airplane touched down before the nose gear and left main landing gear could extend fully.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) arrived at the accident site about two to three hours after the event. When he switched the master switch on, he observed electrical equipment turn on and heard the landing gear extension motor running. During a subsequent postaccident examination, the FAA ASI reported that he found no abnormalities with the electrical system. He also extended the landing gear to the down and locked position with the electric/hydraulic system and observed three green indicator lights illuminated.
Pilot's Operating Handbook Information
According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for the accident airplane, a pressure sensing device in the landing gear system will lower the gear regardless of the gear selection position, provided that the override switch is not engaged. The POH stated that the gear is designed to extend at airspeeds below approximately 103 KIAS with power off, even if the selector is in the up position. The extension speeds vary from approximately 81 knots to 103 KIAS depending on power settings and altitude.