Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, G-BYTI, 17 July 2011

Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, G-BYTI

Summary:

Following takeoff from grass Runway 24 at Sherburn-in-Elmet Airfield, the landing gear failed to fully retract. The pilot was unable to lower the landing gear either by normal means or by means of the emergency extension system. The pilot carried out a wheels-up landing in a crop field adjacent to Runway 21 at Gamston Airport. The propeller and lower fuselage skin were damaged during the landing, but the pilot and passenger were uninjured and vacated the aircraft without assistance.

It was determined that deflation of the right landing gear oleo had prevented full retraction of the landing gear. During subsequent attempts to lower the landing gear, a clevis pin in the landing gear operating mechanism had fouled against the edge of an access hole in a structural beam and jammed, preventing the landing gear from operating.

Download report:

Piper PA-24-250 Comanche G-BYTI 03-12.pdf (1,184.05 kb)

Published 10 December 2014