What happened
On 6 July 2009, a PA 34-200 Piper Seneca, registration SE-GBL, departed Gothenburg City Airport (Säve) for a private flight to Denmark. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot encountered difficulties retracting the landing gear. After attempting to cycle the gear lever between the up and down positions without success, the pilot decided to return to the departure airport.
During the return, air traffic control requested a fly-by for a visual inspection. While the controller noted the gear appeared somewhat unusual, the pilot believed the gear was securely locked, despite the cockpit warning lights indicating otherwise. The pilot proceeded with a landing attempt, unaware that the gear was not in the down-and-lock position. Upon touchdown, the landing gear struts collapsed, causing the aircraft to slide along the runway for approximately 1,000 meters. There were no injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SHK investigators examined the aircraft's hydraulic system and discovered that the electric motor driving the hydraulic pump had failed due to worn-out carbon brushes. This mechanical failure prevented the gear from being extended through normal means.
Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the aircraft's documentation and the pilot's training. It was revealed that the aircraft's emergency checklist was critically deficient, lacking any instructions for landing gear malfunctions or emergency extension procedures. Additionally, the investigation found that the pilot had not practiced emergency gear extension during recent proficiency checks.