2024-10 · NASA ASRS report 2173152
BD100 flight crew reported landing gear malfunction during approach. The flight crew extended the landing gear manually after multiple attempts and landed safely.
While approaching the destination airport; the pilot in command (PIC) called for the gear to be lowered. I selected the GEAR DOWN handle and there was no movement of the gear; after a few seconds went by; a GEAR DISAGREE and PROX SYSTEM FAULT CAS messages were posted. I cycled the gear handle back up and waited to select the gear down again. On the second attempt; the same event occurred. No gear movement occurred and the GEAR DISAGREE CAS message posted again. We conducted a go-around and did some trouble shooting in a lap in the pattern at ZZZ. After 3 to 4 cycles of the gear handle; it was inevitable that the gear was not coming down. We elected to refer to the procedure in the QRH for the GEAR DISAGREE CAS message; which has a procedure for manual gear extension. We followed the checklist and completed it with the information presented to us and when selecting the manual gear extension; the T handle came up and right back down; the nose wheel fell and locked into place; but the main gears did not give us the indication they were down and locked. The PIC also lifted the manual handle and we still did not get the 3 green indicators. We did a low pass over the runway and asked Tower to inspect the gear; and they had confirmed the mains were not down and locked. We elected to [request priority handling] and divert to a long runway at ZZZ1. While on the way to the diversion airport; we elected to run the procedure 1 more time in the QRH. We ran each item together; slowly; and once we were instructed to pull the manual extension; we did a final pull on the T handle and it stuck in the UP position and then received 3 green indicators that the gear was fully down and locked. We elected to turn back to the initial airport; ZZZ. While making left traffic; the Tower had advised us that the gear appeared fully down and locked. Approach and Landing was done normally with no other issues. We completed the flight by clearing customs; and then taxiied the airplane to the hangar. Suggestions: In the QRH procedure for a manual extension of the gear; there is a warning message stating that the crew should not press the center button when pulling the manual handle; however there is no advisory message stating it could take up to 'x' amount of lbs of pressure to lock the handle into place; this was a substantial amount of pressure in order to lock the handle into place. I would suggest along with the warning of not depressing the center button on the T handle; perhaps adding there is a higher amount of pressure needed to lock the handle up.
On approach to Runway XX at ZZZ; upon selecting Landing Gear down; the gear did not extend. We had a GEAR DISAGREE caution and PROX SYS FAULT advisory alerts. There was no landing gear extension noises or buffeting. We believed the landing gear was still up and locked. We executed a go-around and entered a right traffic pattern at 3000'. We cycled the gear handle; and the landing gear remained up. We conducted the GEAR DISAGREE procedure in the QRH. It instructed us to extend the gear by using the Landing Gear Manual Release Handle. Pilot not flying (PNF) pulled the handle; while I flew the airplane. This resulted in the Nose Gear fully extending; but both Main Gear still indicated a DISAGREE condition. We were on downwind at this time; and asked the Tower if we could do a flyby to have them observe our gear position. We flew by the Tower at 1800 ft. MSL at about 160 kts. They stated the Nose Gear appeared to be down; but both Main Gear were not fully extended. We climbed out straight ahead; [requested priority handling] and told ATC that we wanted to go to ZZZ1. After reconfiguring the airplane; I reengaged the Autopilot and we received ATC instructions. We briefed the passengers that we were going to ZZZ1 because we believed the gear was not fully down and locked. I could not get my phone to make a call; so I sent an email to Operations stating that we were diverting to ZZZ1 because of the landing gear issue. We then had time to evaluate our problem. I pulled up on the Manual Release handle and noticed that it did not latch in the extended position. We then decided to conduct the QRH GEAR DISAGREE procedure again. This time I pulled the handle up with a lot more force. The handle latched in the up position and we felt the landing gear move and latch with two noticeable thumps. We then got three green indications for the landing gear and the GEAR DISAGREE indication extinguished. We notified ATC that we had normal gear indications and asked to return to ZZZ. We advised them we could cancel our [priority handling]. We made a normal landing at ZZZ.I believe the First Officer and I followed the correct procedures and kept the necessary people in the know. I cannot explain why the Landing Gear did not extend with the normal gear handle. However; both the QRH and manual are lacking about the forces required to operate the Manual Release Handle and that it should latch in the up position. I remembered from school that it should latch up; but do not remember that there are actually two detents as you pull the handle up. I later found out from one of our maintenance techs that the first detent unlocks the nose gear; and the second detent unlocks the main gear. The second detent requires much more force that the first one; and it will then latch in the fully extended position after that second detent. With the handle latched up; the normal landing gear extension hydraulic fluid path is bypassed to allow the gear to extend. Apparently during our first two attempts to extend the gear; we only pulled the handle through the first detent; thus only the nose gear fully extended. I think that both the QRH and manual should be revised to better describe what is necessary to properly operate the Manual Release Handle.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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