What happened
On 19 October 2004, a Beech F33 Bonanza, registration G-BGSW, departed Blackbushe Airport for Bournemouth as part of a private flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a complete failure of its electrical system. While maintaining contact with Farnborough Radar, the pilot noted that all electrical power had been lost, leaving only a partial carrier wave on the secondary communication channel.
To avoid entering controlled airspace without functioning radios, the pilot altered the flight path to a northerly heading. After communicating with Blackbushe Airport via mobile telephone, the pilot initially intended to divert to Wellesbourne Mountford. However, weather conditions worsened, with rain and visibility dropping below Visual Flight Rules (VFR) limits, resulting in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
Upon identifying Abingdon Airfield visually, the pilot contacted Farnborough Air Traffic Control via mobile phone to declare an emergency. Due to the inability to confirm if the electrically operated landing gear had been successfully deployed via the manual hand crank, the pilot elected to perform an engine-off landing. The engine was shut down and fuel was cut as the aircraft approached the runway threshold. Although the aircraft touched down gently, the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft remained on the runway centerline and stopped safely. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's electrical system and landing gear mechanisms. Testing conducted prior to the aircraft's recovery demonstrated that the electrical system, the standard electric landing gear operation, and the manual extension method were all functioning correctly. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the underside of the fuselage.