Incident Overview
On 1 June 2020 at 20:15 UTC, a Piper PA-24-250, registration LV-HFZ, was conducting a training flight at Marcos Juárez Aerodrome in Córdoba Province, Argentina. The aircraft was owned privately and operated for general aviation training. The flight crew consisted of a private pilot and one passenger.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, after the third touch-and-go maneuver, the pilot selected the landing gear control to retract the gear. The indicator light for gear-up-and-locked did not illuminate, indicating that the gear was not securely retracted. The pilot then attempted to lower the gear but was unsuccessful. Following the procedures in the aircraft flight manual, the pilot could not resolve the malfunction. He communicated with aerodrome authorities via radio to declare an emergency. Subsequently, the pilot executed a landing with the gear retracted on the runway strip. The pilot and passenger evacuated the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries.
System Examination
After the incident, the aircraft was lifted by investigators from the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST). The landing gear was extended, and external force was required to lock the main gear. Examination of the electrical system revealed that the thermal fuse corresponding to the landing gear circuit had blown. The blown fuse indicated an excessive current draw by the electric gear motor. The Piper PA-24-250 is equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear operated by an electric motor that rotates in two directions for extension and retraction. The system includes a transmission assembly, torque tube, push-pull cables for each main gear leg, and a push-pull tube for the nose gear. Limit switches cut power when the gear is fully extended or retracted. Cockpit indicators include a red light for gear-up and a green light for gear-down-and-locked, along with an audible warning if the gear is selected down but not locked.
Conclusion
The investigation did not state a probable cause for the incident.