What happened
On 10 July 2008, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, registration N230MJ, was performing a private local flight returning to Lydd Airport in Kent. After completing a successful touch-and-go landing on Runway 21, the pilot attempted an asymmetric approach for the final landing. During the descent, the pilot selected the landing gear to the down position; however, a circuit breaker for the landing gear motor tripped, leaving the gear in the up and locked position.
As the aircraft approached the runway, Air Traffic Control observed that the landing gear remained retracted and instructed the pilot to perform a go-around. The pilot responded by increasing power on both engines, which created an asymmetric thrust condition. During the landing roll, the pilot retarded both throttles to stabilize the aircraft. The aircraft touched down on the runway but subsequently veered toward the right side of the runway, where it struck a runway light and moved onto the grass. There were no injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained damage to its underside and both propellers were bent.
The investigation
Investigators examined the electrical system and found that the landing gear motor circuit breaker had popped. The maintenance organization responsible for the aircraft confirmed that this specific failure had occurred previously on this airframe. The investigation also identified two distinct propeller strike marks on the runway surface. The pilot noted that the failure to notice the gear was not down was due to a combination of the timing of the descent and the fact that the single 'gear down' indicator light was dim and obscured by bright sunlight. The investigation also considered that the thrust asymmetry experienced during the go-around attempt was likely exacerbated by the propeller damage sustained during the landing.
Findings
- The landing gear remained retracted because the landing gear motor circuit breaker tripped.
- The pilot did not realize the gear had not extended because the dim indicator light was difficult to see in bright sunlight.
- The asymmetric thrust during the go-around attempt was partly caused by the propeller damage sustained during the landing roll.