19980820028679A

(.19) On August 20, 1998, about 1338 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N7298Y, collapsed the landing gear on touchdown at the Pitt-Greenville Airport, Greenville, north carolina. The airplane was operated by carolina aerial mapping service, inc., under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial photographic flight. There were no injuries to the airline transport pilot or the photographer, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Greenville, about 1105, on the same day. According to the pilot's statement, the landing gear failed to extend during the approach to the airport. Attempts to lower the landing gear with the emergency extension procedure were unsuccessful. When minimum fuel was attained, a landing was made resulting in the collapse of the landing gear. (.4) the pilot reported that at 1300, they had completed the photo mission and were returning home. When the flight was within 10 miles of the airport, the pilot initiated a letdown from 8000 feet. To facilitate the descent, the pilot elected to lower the landing gear. When he p laced the gear handle in the down position there was no response. Several attempts by the pilot to lower the landing gear, failed. Once the pilot realized that efforts to lower the landing gear were not yielding positive results, he elected to execute a gear-up landing. The airplane touched down and stopped on the runway. Emergency equipment was also available for the landing. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the landing gear motor solenoid control wire had an intermittent terminal connection under the rubber insulation boot on the solenoid. According to the maintenance manual, this condition would not allow the solenoid to close and run the landing gear motor. (-23) on August 20, 1998, about 1328 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-30 twin comanche, N7298Y, made a gear up landing, on runway 07, at the pgv airport in Pitt county, Greenville, north carolina. The local flight was operating under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, under visual flight rules. The flight originated and terminated at the pgv airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenge r. the aircraft received substantial damage. On August 21, 1998, an investigation coupled with pilot statements revealed the following: the pilot attempted a normal landing, placing the gear selector in the down position. The gear came half way down and stopped. The pilot cycled the gear selector with no gear reaction. The pilot followed the emergency gear extension procedures with no gear reaction. The pilot declared an emergency and landed the aircraft gear up with no injury to the pilot or passenger. Post accident investigation revealed that the landing gear motor solenoid control wire #G2H had an intermittent terminal connection under the rubber insulation boot on the solenoid. This intermittent connection would not allow the solenoid to close and run the landing gear motor and transmission. This finding would explain why the gear came half way down and stopped. Post accident investigation of emergency landing gear system revealed no faults found with system operations.