What happened
On 3 November 2012, a Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV, registration G-BNTC, was conducting a private flight from Cranfield Airport toward Sherburn Airfield. While descending from 4,500 ft to 2,5 and selecting the landing gear, the pilot noticed a red 'gear unsafe' indication. Following this, smoke was observed emerging from beneath the seats of the aircraft.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot sought to reduce engine power; however, the pilot mistakenly operated the propeller RPM lever instead of the intended control. This error resulted in the engine RPM being limited to 2,000 even at full power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in a field near the destination airfield. While the aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the forced landing and the mechanical indications observed by the crew. Investigators noted that while a 'gear unsafe' light was observed, the pilot's statement did not clarify if any green 'down and locked' indications were visible.
Although smoke was seen emanating from the cabin area, investigators could not definitively confirm if this originated from the electro-hydraulic landing gear motor. Furthermore, the investigation established that the pilot did not utilize the aircraft's emergency gear extension system during the descent. This manual procedure would have released hydraulic pressure, allowing the gear to lock into position via gravity.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a misidentification of engine controls during a period of high workload, pulling the propeller RPM lever instead of the power lever.
- The aircraft was unable to maintain high engine RPM due to the accidental reduction of the propeller speed.
- The emergency extension facility for the landing gear was not employed to resolve the unsafe gear indication.