ATL82DKJ09

Factual narrative

THE PILOT TOOKOFF FROM NORTH HUNTSVILLE ON A RUNWAY THAT WAS WET FROM MELTED SNOW. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT, SO HE RETURNED AND LANDED. A MECHANIC FOUND ICE ON THE ANTI-RETRACTION SWITCH ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. A GROUND HEATER WAS USED TO MELT THE ICE AND THE SWITCH WAS CLEANED. ANOTHER TAKEOFF WAS MADE AND THE GEAR RETRACTED NORMALLY. DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION, THE NOSE GEAR WOULD EXTEND ONLY ABOUT HALF-WAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND AND LOCK THE NOSE GEAR WITH EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SYSTEMS. HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN GEAR WITH THE PROPELLERS FEATHERED. DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE PROPELLERS AND THE NOSE SECTION. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE TUBE ASSEMBLY, PN 0840125-4, WAS BOWED AND BROKEN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12