Incident
On 25 June 2003 at 1645 UTC, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration G-BFLH, landed with its landing gear retracted at Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire. The aircraft, manufactured in 1977 and powered by two Continental LTSIO-360-E piston engines, was operating a public transport flight. The sole pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage to the propellers, engines (shock loaded), flap and fuselage skins (scratched).
Flight History
The flight originated from Wycombe Air Park with an outbound leg to Blackpool Airport, Lancashire, which was uneventful. On the return leg, shortly after departure from Blackpool, the pilot observed the red 'GEAR UNSAFE' warning light illuminated. Believing the landing gear was retracted—based on the absence of sounds associated with extended gear and normal aircraft handling—and concerned that the hydraulic pump might burn out, the pilot pulled two associated landing gear circuit breakers.
Landing Incident
The aircraft arrived back at Wycombe after the airport had closed at 1630 hrs. The pilot had been informed by his company that permission to land out of operating hours had been obtained, though the airport operator did not agree. The pilot positioned for Runway 07 and selected the landing gear down on base leg, but because the circuit breakers were still pulled, the gear did not extend. Distracted by other traffic approaching a grass landing area south of the runway, the pilot did not complete a final check of gear down before landing. The propellers, flaps, and underside of the fuselage contacted the runway, and the aircraft came to a halt approximately 300 metres along the surface. No fire or rescue service was available due to the airfield closure, but other personnel witnessed the accident and went to assist. The three occupants evacuated without external assistance.
Pilot Actions and Handbook Guidance
The Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the landing gear unsafe light illuminates when the gear is in transit; if the light remains on, the recommended action is to recycle the gear. The pilot did not report performing this action. Instead, he pulled the circuit breakers, which disabled the landing gear hydraulic motor, indicating lights, and warning horn system. He did not troubleshoot whether the gear would function correctly, confident that the unsafe light indicated only the retracted position.
Previous Incident
On 17 January 2002, the same aircraft, operated by a different operator on an instructional flight, landed with the gear retracted (AAIB Bulletin July 2002). In that incident, the landing gear warning horn had sounded at manifold pressures greater than 14 inches due to a misaligned micro switch, and the circuit breaker had been pulled to silence it. Subsequently, the training organisation issued a notice to instructors not to pull the breaker if the horn sounded with manifold pressure above 14 inches, but to report for microswitch adjustment. The gear indication system had not been tested since that incident; it was considered likely that an intermittent problem with the up position switch existed.
Aftermath
The operator issued a 'Notice to Pilots' emphasising the importance of not disabling aircraft systems unnecessarily by pulling circuit breakers.