Here’s the email I did not want to ever write but if someone knows or has insight, I need your thoughts. This morning with my instructor in my Lancair 290 we took off to do a trip around the pattern at our local airport. It was clear
sky, unlimited visibility. He and I performed a normal run-up, by the book with no issues. Radio check, no issues, took off and gear-switch up at point of no landing, no issues.
As we were going to just do a simple landing, on downwind I did my normal before landing checklist, slowed to gear down speed 120 kts and did my GUMPs. Gas on correct side, fuel pump on, Undercarriage, gear down and three green, check.
(Instructor right seat audibly verified. They are very bright green lights! And a bright yellow in-motion light illuminates) Mixture full rich, Prop max RPM (MT electric prop). Airspeed with gear down very quickly drops from 120 to 100 so twisted in 16”
on throttle from 13”.
Announced base turn, put in more flaps, did GUMPs again. Fuel correct. Again, same verification three green! Mixture full rich, throttle twisted tight (high rpm). Airspeed 95 kts. Right on glideslope. (VASI lights good).
Announced final turn, put in all flaps, did GUMPs last time on short final. This time, looked at lights, all OUT, gear switch down, no yellow. Hmmm something’s amiss here…!? Gear lever is down, why are lights out?! Circuit breaker is
in, not popped. Concentrate on landing, PING PING PING of blades and shooosh of composite on asphalt. Slide to a stop and look at instructor who is looking at me. What happened??? We had THREE GREENS on downwind and base, and gear down switch is STILL
DOWN!
Ok, if I was reading this I’d say sure, you imagined three greens didn’t you? But before you say so, we climbed out of the plane, and after a crane arrived picked up the plane the gear was cleanly stowed. Moved it off the ramp and had
an A&P the first person to check it while still lifted up by the crane. Everything turned on, electronics, radios, etc. No circuit breakers popped. But the Gear Down switch (which was still in the down position) did NOT move the gear down or up, nor start
the hydraulic motor. No smell of any burnt wiring, etc. A&P moved the gear switch up and down with no effect. Pulled and reset the dedicated hydraulic pump breaker, no effect. Checked the locking center console bypass switch, correct position, and finally
A&P asked me if there was a bypass. I pulled the hydraulic pump breaker and flipped the hydraulic lever bypass and the gear dropped. We pushed the nearly completely extended gears to full lock position, and got THREE GREEN.
We were about 50 feet above the ground on very short final when on the 3rd GUMPs I noticed the lights out, but with the gear down, and having seen three green 2x and verified by the instructor, I’m at a loss as to what happened.
All points to the gear retracting which makes me think there must be short somewhere…
So now off to meet the FAA guy, call the MT Prop guy, getting ready to call the insurance guys…
Lovely day to fly indeed!
Regards, and remember it’s not if, but when…
Richard Neal