What happened
On 17 November 2017, a Piper PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole, registration N440GC, was conducting a private flight departing from Coventry Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 800 ft, the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear. Although the landing gear in transit light illuminated, the gear itself failed to retract. Despite the pilot cycling the gear mechanism multiple times, the landing gear remained in the extended position.
During this period, the pilot noted that the landing gear in transit light remained lit alongside the three down lights. After notifying Coventry Airport Air Traffic Control of the malfunction and the intention to return to the airfield, the pilot performed a landing. While the initial touchdown was successful, the nose landing gear retracted as the pilot applied the brakes. This caused the aircraft's nose and propellers to strike the runway, resulting in damage to the lower nose structure and the propellers. There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the maintenance records of the operating organisation. The inspection revealed that the nose landing gear downlock pivot bolt had become bent. This deformation caused the downlock assembly to interfere with the gear doors, which physically prevented the gear leg from retracting.
Furthermore, the investigation established that the displacement of the downlock mechanism allowed the microswitch to activate the down light even though the nose landing gear was not in the fully locked position. The specific cause for the bending of the pivot bolt could not be determined.