Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the landing gear actuator cable.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear at his intended destination without success. He spent one and one-half hours in the landing pattern attempting to get the gear to extend, but was not successful. The pilot made an intentional gear-up landing. The investigation revealed the landing gear actuator cable had failed with the gear position actuating valve in the UP position.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 22, 1993, at 1750 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31, N654N, sustained substantial damage in an intentional wheels up landing at the St. Clair County Airport, Port Huron, Michigan. The commercial pilot and the single passenger aboard the airplane were not injured. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported he attempted to lower the landing gear upon his arrival at Port Huron, but the gear handle moved without resistance, and the landing gear stayed in the up position. The pilot and his passenger tried to get the landing gear down for one and one-half hours without success. The pilot elected to make an intentional gear-up landing. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported the landing gear actuator cable (P/N 55416-02) had failed. The gear position selector valve was in the UP position. -