Accident Overview
On August 8, 2019, at approximately 0845 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, registration N10KC, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing with the gear retracted near Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor reported that after completing a single-engine approach and go-around, the landing gear would not fully retract. The landing gear circuit breaker was found in the open position. The instructor reset the breaker and attempted to cycle the gear, but each time the breaker tripped again. Manual extension via the gear extension handle also failed. The instructor then decided to land with the gear intentionally retracted.
Postaccident Examination
Examination revealed abrasion damage to the lower fuselage and underlying structure. Two longitudinal keel beams sustained abrasive damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the nose gear centering mechanism jammed during retraction, preventing full retraction. A mark on the nose gear fluted centering guide indicated the gear was positioned far to the right. When returned to normal position, no anomalies were found during gear extension and retraction tests.