19990417018649A

(.19) On April 17, 1999, approximately 1700 pacific daylight time, a Beech C33, N1310A, experienced a landing gear inadvertent retraction or collapse on the runway while performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 30 at Portland-Hillsboro airport, Hillsboro, Oregon. The aircraft subsequently slid to a stop on the runway on its belly, sustaining substantial damage. The private pilot-in-command and one passenger, his wife were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR 91 local personal flight out of Portland-Hillsboro. In a preliminary telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated he lowered the gear on downwind at midfield, and rechecked it on base and final. The pilot stated that all gear indicated down. The pilot reported that the approach (performed with 20 degrees of flaps) and touchdown were normal. The pilot stated his recollection of subsequent events was uncertain, but that his recollection was that while rolling on the runway just after touchdown, he saw the nose start to go down. The pilot recalled that he then pulled back on the wheel and attempted to add power, but stated he was going too slow to raise the nose. The next thing the pilot recalled was sitting on the runway, stopped. The pilot stated that the entire accident sequence happened in about 5 seconds. The pilot stated he did not remember reaching for or operating any switches, such as gear or flaps, at the time the accident happened. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane after the accident reported to the NTSB that they found abrasion damage to the airplane's main landing gear doors, as well as overstress damage to the nose landing gear linkage (the FAA inspectors reported that the nose gear appeared to have been forcibly pushed back up into the nose wheel well.) The FAA inspectors also reported that in a post-accident test, a successful manual extension of the main landing gear was accomplished, but that the nose gear did not extend during this test. FAA inspectors also reported their initial contact with the pilot disclosed that the pilot did not meet 14 CFR 61.57 recency of experience requirements for carriage of passengers. Portland-Hillsboro runway 30 is a 6,600 by 150 foot asphalt-surface runway, and is equipped with a visual approach slope indicator (VASI). Winds at Portland-Hillsboro were reported at variable at 3 knots at 1653. (.4)the pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing. He extended the gear and checked gear down during approach, which he reported was normal. The pilot stated main gear touchdown was normal, but he had no memory of nose gear touchdown. He stated that 'the nose dropped below normal for landing roll-out' and he attempted to take off, but was too slow and the aircraft skidded to a stop in a nose-down position on the runway centerline. He stated, 'the landing gear appeared to be in a semi-retracted or collapsed position.' FAA inspectors noted abrasion damage to the main landing gear doors in a post-accident inspection, as well as nose gear overstress damage consistent with its being forcibly pushed back up into the nose wheel well. In a post-accident test, the main landing gear extended manually but the nose landing gear would not extend. The pilot reported he had not logged any pilot time in the 90 days before the accident.