Event Summary
On November 29, 2016, at 17:50 local time, a privately operated Piper PA28 aircraft, registration N691J, experienced a landing gear malfunction during a flight from Avignon Caumont to Cannes Mandelieu, France. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot and an examiner were on board; no injuries were reported.
Flight Sequence
The flight originated from Cannes Mandelieu at 15:45 for an instrument rating practical test at Avignon Caumont. During an ILS approach to runway 17 at Avignon, when the pilot selected the landing gear lever to "down," the red transit light illuminated, but the green locked lights did not illuminate. The pilot informed the examiner of a landing gear system failure. At decision height, the pilot aborted the approach and notified air traffic control. The pilot then selected the gear lever to "up."
At the examiner's request, the pilot entered a holding pattern to troubleshoot. The examiner considered the emergency resources limited at Avignon Caumont and decided to return to Cannes Mandelieu. During the approach, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to extend the gear, the pilot performed the emergency gear extension procedure. The green lights for the main landing gear illuminated, but the nose gear light did not. The examiner swapped indicator bulbs, but the indication remained unchanged. The examiner declared an emergency and requested a low pass for visual inspection. The controller was uncertain about the gear position.
The pilot flew south of the aerodrome and performed several yaw maneuvers to try to lock the nose gear. During these maneuvers, the left main gear locked light extinguished and re-illuminated after a few minutes. On another low pass, the controller confirmed the gear appeared down and authorized a landing on runway 35.
The examiner informed the pilot that, given the landing gear system design, if the nose gear was not locked, it was possible that during landing the nose gear or a main gear could retract. During the landing roll, the left main gear retracted. The pilot maintained directional control, and the aircraft came to a stop on the runway.
Additional Information
The aircraft had completed its annual/100-hour inspection on November 24, 2016. The pilot reported that three days after this inspection, during a circuit flight, the landing gear system malfunctioned and required emergency extension. The next day, the maintenance shop found worn brushes in the landing gear electric motor and replaced them. Subsequent flights operated normally.
On November 27, a similar malfunction occurred. A system check the following day found no anomaly, and the next flight was uneventful.
Post-accident examination of the aircraft involved actuating the emergency gear extension handle; all three gear extended and locked. The normal gear selector was cycled multiple times with no anomalies observed.