What happened
On 9 May 2001, a Piper PA-24-250, registration G-APUZ, was conducting a private flight from Blackbushe to Clutton Hill Farm. The purpose of the flight was to allow potential buyers to inspect the aircraft. After a successful initial landing on the grass runway at Clutton Hill, a demonstration flight was performed. During this flight, the pilot experienced confusion regarding the landing gear position because the activation of navigation lights dimmed the green 'landing gear safe' indicator.
During subsequent landing attempts on the unmarked runway, the aircraft experienced an awkward touchdown that caused it to bounce. Following a second go-around, a third landing was completed. Upon taxiing, the pilot noticed rippling on the upper skin of the right wing. Although the pilot considered leaving the aircraft for inspection, he decided to proceed with the return flight to Blackbushe, leaving the landing gear extended as a precaution. However, during the return leg, the pilot reflexively retracted the gear. The gear failed to retract fully, and subsequent attempts to extend it using both normal and emergency systems failed. The pilot diverted to Turweston Aerodrome, where the aircraft landed safely with the gear partially retracted.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft had struck the ground approximately 50 feet short of the runway threshold at Clutton Hill Farm during the bumpy landing. This impact caused structural damage to the aircraft. Engineering inspections following the incident at Turweston revealed that the rear trunnion mounting frame of the right landing gear had been displaced, causing the gear leg to tilt 10 degrees aft. This displacement was caused by general sheet-metal distortion in the nearby wing structure. This structural deformation caused the gear to foul against the airframe, which allowed partial retraction but prevented full extension.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing gear malfunction was structural distortion of the wing assembly following a hard touchdown.
- The aircraft struck the ground short of the runway threshold at Cluton Hill Farm.
- The resulting displacement of the right landing gear trunnion mounting frame prevented the gear from extending via normal or emergency means.