Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, G-BRXW, 13 January 2005
Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, G-BRXW
Summary:
The pilot was returning to Coventry Airport. Upon selection of the landing gear to the DOWN position the landing gear extended through about half its travel when the landing gear motor circuit breaker tripped and could not be re-set. Attempts to use the manual free-fall mechanism were also unsuccessful. After burning off fuel, and at the suggestion of Air Traffic Control, a landing was made on the grass section of a taxiway, whereupon all three gears collapsed completely. The pilot and passenger evacuated the aircraft normally and there was no fire. An internal short-circuit was subsequently found in the motor relay and, in the opinion of the maintenance company, the failure of the free-fall mechanism to operate could have been due to loading arising from the unusual ‘semi-extended’ condition of the landing gear when the attempt was made. See also AAIB Bulletin 5/99, PA-24, G BUTL.
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