ERA12CA028

Factual narrative

According to the pilot/owner, the airplane experienced a loss of electrical power and he decided to return to the airport. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot moved the landing gear lever to the down position, but did not see the three green lights or hear the landing gear extend. He then called a maintenance facility located at the airport and asked them to verify if the landing gear was down while he performed a low pass over the runway. The maintenance personnel indicated that the gear was not down, and the pilot attempted an emergency gear extension procedure. After another low pass, the maintenance personnel stated that the gear was extended and the pilot landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered off the runway, and impacted a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the battery had been removed prior to his arrival, therefore, the reason for the electrical failure could not be determined. Examination and operation of the landing gear revealed no anomalies. The pilot owned the airplane for about 8 years prior to the accident, and had accumulated 1,650 hours of flight time in make and model. When asked by the FAA inspector, the pilot could not successfully perform nor articulate the emergency gear extension procedure. The pilot was then handed the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and asked to locate the procedure in the handbook. The pilot was unable to locate the emergency landing gear extension procedure in the POH. According to the pilot/owner, the airplane sustained a loss of electrical power, and he decided to return to the airport. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot moved the landing gear lever to the down position but did not see the three green lights or hear the landing gear extend. He then called a maintenance facility located at the airport and asked them to verify if the landing gear was down while he performed a low pass over the runway. The maintenance personnel indicated that the gear was not down; the pilot attempted an emergency gear extension procedure. After another low pass, the maintenance personnel stated that the gear was extended, and the pilot landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway, impacting a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the battery had been removed, and, therefore, the reason for an electrical failure could not be determined. Examination and operation of the landing gear revealed no anomalies. The pilot owned the airplane for about 8 years prior to the accident and had accumulated 1,650 hours of flight time in the make and model; however, the pilot could not successfully perform or articulate the emergency gear extension procedure. The pilot was also unable to locate the emergency landing gear extension procedure in the pilot’s operating handbook. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Incorrect use/operation - C
• — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Electrical power system-(general)-Not specified
• C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Knowledge-Knowledge of procedures-Pilot - C