PA-44 Instructor reported landing with a single main gear unable to extend; during a training flight in day VMC conditions at a tower controlled airport. The aircraft landed safely and skidded to a stop on the runway; the Instructor and Student evacuated unhurt onto the runway.
Synopsis
PA-44 Instructor reported landing with a single main gear unable to extend; during a training flight in day VMC conditions at a tower controlled airport. The aircraft landed safely and skidded to a stop on the runway; the Instructor and Student evacuated unhurt onto the runway.
Narrative
Completed preflight and all applicable checklists; after we took off everything was normal; checklist were run and we went out to ZZZ1; and as we were entering the 45 downwind for runway XX at ZZZ1; we ran the gear down before landing checklist; and after not getting three greens; we got two green; one on the left gear and one for the nose gear. We tried switching out the bulbs to see if it was burnt bulb. After trying all other bulbs and not getting a green for the right gear down the gear; unsafe gear was still on as well and we made the decision to do a go around and after going around; we started to troubleshoot using the unsafe gear indication/manual gear extension checklist. After running through the first part of the checklist before the emergency extension knob; we could still not get the greenlight for the right gear so we try to cycle by putting the gear up and then putting the gear back down see if it would give us a indication that it was down and after doing that it still was not giving us the indication that it was down so we continued the checklist by using the emergency extension knob we pulled it out and we checked and were still not getting three greens so we left the emergency knob out and we tried to yaw the aircraft and apply G load to see if we could get that right gear to come out after doing that and we not being able get it to come out. We got the POH and went to section 3 and ran through the POH to see if we could get that gear to come out and it would still not come out. So the Instructor [requested priority handling] and we switched over to the ZZZ Tower and they requested us to do a flyby; we said unable due to company policy; we can do a low approach so we did a low approach over runway XY [at ZZZ1] and there was another company aircraft holding short of [runway] XY so they watched as we did a low approach; and they confirmed that our right gear was not fully extended; but it was partially down just not fully extended. At which point ZZZ Tower had us go north east of the port at or above 6000 where we did a little more troubleshooting see if we can get the indication to come on we couldn't so we came back in to do to land and then at that point ZZZ Tower called us and said that company operations told us to go burn fuel and to contact them so we went north east at or above 6000 again to burn some fuel and to contact operations and at which point the instructor called them on his phone and he talked with him while I put us in some circles so he could do some extra troubleshooting that was not in the POH to see if we get a gear to come down after about 30 or 45 minutes of troubleshooting and applying more G load we cannot get the right gear to come down so we went back into the ZZZ airport; landed on runway XZ; and the instructor did a great job keeping us safe and we landed perfectly safe with but the right gear buckled when it hit the ground so we did a little bit of a skid to a stop and we ran the emergency evacuate checklist and evacuated at that point.
Second reporter narrative
This was a training flight to see if I was going to be able to endorse my student for his commercial multiengine land check ride. The previous day he hadn't performed to a level where I was willing to endorse him; so we planed to go up to ZZZ1 do a short field landing; and single engine operations; then go to the practice area and do the maneuvers he needed to get to acs (Airmen Certification Standards) standards. We departed ZZZ around XA:30-XA:45 local and headed to ZZZ1. The flight there takes and entering the traffic pattern took probably 15-20 minutes. We entered the downwind for [runway] XX at a 45 entry. My student ran through the gear down before landing checklist. We both noticed the right main light was not on and the gear unsafe was still indicating. I told him to continue but don't land. Since we were still in the downwind I decided I had some time to switch the landing gear indicator bulbs. I tried each illuminated bulb on the right one; to no luck. By this time we were on final but still about 700 or so feet above the runway; since my student didn't descend like I told him. So I had my student do a go around; making the radio calls needed. We headed to the practice area climbing to 7500 ft. I switched to XXX.X and let them know I might [request priority handling] and what the situation is. We then ran through the gear unsafe checklist. When we got to the pulling the emergency gear down lever; I paused and attempted once to recycle the gears. I put them up; then back down and got the same issue. So I ran through the gear unsafe checklist again; this time fully. We then spent some time trying to force the gear down with maneuvers. I also had my student grab the POH and see if there was anything else there we could do not listed in our checklist. When we couldn't get it down; I [requested priority handling]; put XXX.X on com 2 active and went over to ZZZ tower on com 1. Tower wanted me to do a flyby; but I told them unable due to company policy but I could do a low approach on runway XY [at ZZZ1]. We had one of the company planes holding short and they confirmed the right was partly down but not all the way. We then went to the NE of the airport above 6000 ft to try to get it down again. I decided to then take it in; but tower told me company wanted me to burn fuel and to contact them. The head of company; reached out to me and we tried additional items. In one of the quite moments; I had my student take controls; and I double checked the POH. After company and I determined there wasn't anything else to be done; we let tower know I was coming in to land. I took [runway] XZ [at ZZZ] since it was a wider and longer runway; and landed the plane. I kept the right gear up for as long as I could. Once we were stopped we did out emergency evacuation checklist and evacuated out the main door and off the runway.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.