What happened
On 21 July 2012, a Pioneer 300, registration G-CDPA, was conducting a private flight when it experienced a significant landing gear failure. After departing from Orange Grove Airstrip in Gloucestershire, the pilot noted that the landing gear indication light was illuminated, signaling that the gear had not fully retracted.
In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot cycled the landing gear multiple times and utilized the manual extension/retraction system. Despite these efforts, the indication light remained on. As a safety precaution, the pilot elected to continue the flight with the gear locked in the DOWN position. Upon touchdown at a private strip in Blisworth, Northamptonshire, the right main landing gear collapsed, which subsequently caused the left main and nose landing gear to fail. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear and the lower fuselage, though there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the mechanical state of the landing gear and the pilot's actions following the initial indication of a retraction failure. The investigation examined the history of the aircraft's landing gear, specifically looking into a previous heavy landing that had occurred several weeks prior to this incident.