History of the Flight
On 28 November 2005, a Cessna F177RG Cardinal, registration G-BFPZ, departed Exeter Airport following maintenance and flew to Swansea Airport. The pilot joined the circuit and performed an uneventful touch-and-go on Runway 28. On the second approach, after selecting the landing gear down, the pilot observed a landing gear unsafe warning light, a low voltage warning light, and a burning smell; the landing gear circuit breaker had tripped. The pilot reset the breaker and recycled the gear. The main landing gear extended normally, but the unsafe light remained. The control tower reported that the nose landing gear (NLG) had not extended.
The pilot executed a go-around and attempted unsuccessfully to lower the NLG by recycling the gear selector. He then used the emergency hand pump. During several passes by the tower, the NLG was observed to extend only partially. After the tower indicated no further extension despite continued pumping, the pilot elected to land with the NLG partially extended.
The touchdown was normal, with the pilot holding the nose high until elevator effectiveness diminished. As the nose lowered, the NLG collapsed, causing the propeller and forward fuselage to strike the runway. The aircraft came to rest on the runway; both occupants exited unaided. There was no fire.
Aircraft Examination
Immediately after the accident, the aircraft was inspected at Swansea by its maintenance organization and the insurer's loss adjuster. When jacked up, the main landing gear was found fully down and locked. The NLG was jammed in its bay by the remains of the NLG bay doors. After removal of the doors, the NLG was released but its oleo had overextended due to a damaged torque link from the collapse. The NLG retracted normally using the electric system, but the overextended oleo and bay door damage caused jamming. After freeing, an attempt to extend electrically produced no movement until the landing gear circuit breaker was rocked side to side, after which the NLG extended normally. The NLG was partially retracted and then extended using the emergency hand pump to the fully down and locked position without problems.
Previous Maintenance Activity
On 1 November 2005, the aircraft owner reported a heavy landing at Swansea to the maintenance organization at Exeter. The aircraft was inspected on 9 November; no obvious damage was noted except a fractured nose wheel, which was replaced. On 16 November, the aircraft was flown gear-down to Exeter for a 50-hour check and detailed inspection of the landing gear and structure. No further damage was identified, but the NLG drag links and main attachment bolts were replaced as a precaution. The landing gear tested correctly using both normal and emergency systems.
Current Status
At the time of writing, the aircraft remained at Swansea awaiting repair, after which it was to be ferried to Exeter for further investigation of the NLG failure to extend normally. The outcome was to be reviewed and published as an addendum to this report in a future AAIB Bulletin.