20000301009109A

(-23) A/c experienced electrical system failure after departure from santa maria, CA, for fresno, CA. Pilot noticed that auto pilot would not remain engaged and that radio communications were becoming intermittent. The pilot now observed the amp meter to be discharging. The pilot elected to land at Harris ranch, CA. Inital landing gear extensions was by normal system, but failed to produce a safe down indication. The pilot now initiated the emergency landing gear extension procedures, thought that the gear was down, but still did not have a safe down indication, assumed to be due to loss of electrical power. On touch down the nose gear and the left main gear collapsed damaging the left wing. (.4) on March 1, 2000, at 1555 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N8170S, lost electrical power and made a precautionary landing at the Harris Ranch Airport, Coalinga, California. The airplane, operated under 14 CFR part 91 by the pilot, sustained substantial damage after the gear collapsed and the left wing impacted a runway light as it veered off runway 30. The private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed from the santa maria, California airport at 1500, and was scheduled to terminate at the fresno yosemite airport, fresno, California, on the day of the accident. In a telephone interview with an investigator from the safety board, the pilot indicated that the airplane had received a new paint job in December 1999 at santa maria, and the purpose of the flight was to return the airplane back to its home base. He stated that he conducted a thorough preflight. There were no discrepancies noted with the run-up, and all of the engine g nges were in the green, including the electrical system. After takeoff and a climb to 10,500 feet, he engaged the autopilot. The pilot reported that the airplane pitched up and he disengaged the autopilot. He made an unsuccessful attempt to re-engage the autopilot, anc simultaneously heard crackling over the speaker, which he noted was not selected on the audio panel. He stated that los angeles center reported to him that they had lost his transponder code. The pilot reported that the ammeter was now indicating zero. He attempted to contact los angeles center; however, the radio transmission was fuzzy, like he had lost contact. According to the radio communications transcript provided by los angeles air route traffic control center, radio and radar contact was lost at 1528. The pilot reported that he shut all electrical items down and decided to make a precautionary landing at Harris ranch. Prior to lowering the landing gear, he slowed the airplane down to 125 knots. Then he lowered the gear normally with the automatic switch, and felt the gear go down. He stated that because of the electrical failure, there were no landing gear indicator lights. He conducted the emergency landing gear extension checklist, which included slowing the airplame down to 92 knots, engaging the emergency manual gear extension handle, and fishtailing the airplane to get the landing gear down and in a locked postion. Approx. 10 miles from Harris ranch, the pilot noted that his airspeed and power were consistent with what he historically associated with the gear being in the down position. After entering the airport environment, he checked the windsock and determined that runway 32 was in use. He stated that the touchdown was normal, but on the landing rollout, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the propeller was still spinning and contacted the runway. After the nose section impacted the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway where the left wing subsequently struck a runway light. Prior to exiting the airplane, the pilot stated he shutoff the master switch and the fuel. The airplane was retrieved by fresno jet center. The maintenance technician who performed the work stated that the airplane was raised on jacks to extend the landing gear to remove it from the runway. He said that the right main landing gear extended and locked, but the nose landing fear would not extend. He then went inside the cockpit to relieve the system pressure on the emergency gear extension lever to assist in getting the nose gear to come down and lock in position. Fresno jet center maintenance shop repaired the airplane. During the repairs, the nose landing gear spring mechanism was inspected and found to be within manufacturer's limits. A landing gear extension/retraction functional test was also conducted, with no discrepancies noted. According to the airplane manufacturer's pilot operating handbook (POH), the landing gear system is a retractable tricycle landing gear that is hydraulically actuated by an electrically powered reversible pump. In the emergency landing gear extension section, it states that if electrical power is lost, the landing gear extension lights will not illuminate, and the pilot has to follow the emergency gear extension procedures to ensure that the landing gear is in the down and locked position. A FAA inspector from fresno, CA., flight standards district office examined the airplane. He stated that a cause could not be determined for the electrical failure.