20160711024979I

On July 11, 2016, at approximately 1100 Hawaii standard time (HST), a Cessna 177RG airplane, N5269G, sustained minor damage during a nose gear up landing on runway 4L at the Honolulu International Airport (hnl). A federal aviation administration (FAA) designated pilot examiner (DPE) and the applicant pilot were aboard but not injured. The airplane was registered to george?s aviation service, inc. and was being operated by a private pilot and DPE for a practical test flight. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at hnl at roughly 0915 HST. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the practical test flight conducted under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91.

After departing hnl, the applicant selected the landing gear up and after ten seconds the landing gear failed to retract fully after takeoff. The DPE and the applicant pilot elected to discontinue the practical test based on the landing gear mechanical failure. The applicant attempted to use the emergency landing gear extension procedures to extend the landing gear. While using the emergency procedure initially, the applicant had good resistance on the emergency extension handle while he pumped it and the landing gear began to extend. After approximately ten pumps of the emergency extension handle the applicant told the DPE there was no longer resistance on the emergency extension handle and the landing gear was not moving further.

The DPE crawled into the baggage compartment at the rear of the plane to access the hydraulic pump and found the hydraulic reservoir completely empty. The DPE re-filled the reservoir with a quart of engine oil and instructed the applicant to turn on the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump ran normally when activated to on. The DPE observed the fluid in the reservoir drain out as the hydraulic pump ran and while the landing gear did not move.

The DPE took control of the aircraft and attempted to force the gear down by increasing the g load and, after 30 minutes, the DPE was able to get the main gear to lock in place. The applicant noted the nose gear was still retracted. For approximately 60 minutes, the DPE and applicant attempted to lock the nose gear using the same method to lock the main gear without any luck and elected to perform an emergency nose gear up landing on runway 4L at hnl.

Upon touchdown on runway 4L, the pilot kept the nose gear off the runway as long as possible. The nose gear folded once contact was made with the runway causing the propeller to make contact with the runway surface. The aircraft continued its slide down the runway for approximately 300 feet with the nose gear folded.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed no damage to the nose gear assembly, minor damage to the nose gear door, and all three propeller blade tips were found folded back from striking the runway surface.

Examination of the airplane landing gear hydraulic system malfunction by a certificated mechanic revealed a small rupture on a hydraulic flex line going into the main landing gear actuator. The leak is only apparent when pressure is applied to bring the landing gear down. The leak produces a stream of fluid about the width of a tooth pick which shoots aft. Although small in size, the leak is sufficient to have prevented the system from reaching full operating pressure and thus preventing the nose landing gear from reaching the full forward/lock position in flight. Upon pressurizing the landing gear hydraulic system, only one leak was present in the entire landing hydraulic system. Inspection of the mechanical operation of the nose gear assembly revealed no problems with the mechanical components; the gear is able to retract, extend, and lock without binding. No damage noted to firewall or engine mounts.