What happened
On 19 January 1998, a Piper PA-3ly Seneca, registration N32625, was performing a private flight when the landing gear failed to retract following takeoff. Cockpit indicators showed that the nose gear had locked, but the main landing gear remained in an in-transit state. Attempts to engage the emergency lowering system yielded no change in the cockpit indications.
To verify the gear position, the pilot performed a fly-by of Runway 27 and a fly-past of the Guernsey Airport control tower, which confirmed that while the nose gear appeared correct, both main gears were extended and not fully locked. In an effort to mitigate potential damage, the pilot elected to shut down one engine during the approach. This maneuver resulted in a heavy landing at low airspeed, causing the nose and left main landing gear to collapse. The impact caused damage to the nose, left wing, left propeller, and lower forward fuselage, rendering the aircraft beyond economical repair. There were no injuries to the single pilot or the two passengers on board. A small fire caused by leaking fuel broke out after the aircraft stopped but was promptly extinguished by the airport fire service.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and maintenance records to determine the cause of the gear failure. An engineering inspection of the nose landing gear bay identified that the main hydraulic 'up' pipe, located under a 'P' clip, had suffered a perforation due to corrosion. This leak caused the entire hydraulic system fluid to escape once the gear was selected for retraction.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the pivot bushes for the main gear drag links were corroded, despite the presence of adequate grease. Evidence of long-term hydraulic fluid leakage was also visible on the lower fuselage skinning. It was noted that the aircraft had been stored outdoors in a salt-laden environment at Alderney airport, and the owner had been previously warned regarding the necessity of regular lubrication to prevent such corrosion.