What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was approaching E-95 at about 0530 on 04/15/2022, made usual radio calls and power settings at 14 inches manifold pressure and 2400 RPM.
After third radio call, a medical helicopter that had just departed E-95 informed me that there was a flock of deer at the approach end of runway 10.
Pilot turned on landing lights, dropped the gear and started the approach to runway 10. Pilot did not visualize any animal activity and proceeded to land. When plane came to a stop, I noticed nose was down, turned off all electrical, exited plane immediately. According to personnel who recovered the airplane, the landing gear switch was in the down position when the airplane was recovered. When lifted the landing gear remained in a partially extended position and the landing gear did not operate when power was applied to the airplane and the landing gear switch was manipulated. The landing gear subsequently lowered and locked when the emergency gear system was utilized. The airplane received substantial damage to the skins, frames, and stringers on the underbelly of the fuselage.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS APPROACHING E-95 AT ABOUT 0530 ON 04/15/2022, MADE USUAL RADIO CALLS AND POWER SETTINGS AT 14 INCHES MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND 2400 RPM.
AFTER THIRD RADIO CALL, A MEDICAL HELICOPTER THAT HAD JUST DEPARTED E-95 INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A FLOCK OF DEER AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 10.
PILOT TURNED ON LANDING LIGHTS, DROPPED THE GEAR AND STARTED THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 10. PILOT DID NOT VISUALIZE ANY ANIMAL ACTIVITY AND PROCEEDED TO LAND. WHEN PLANE CAME TO A STOP, I NOTICED NOSE WAS DOWN, TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL, EXITED PLANE IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO PERSONNEL WHO RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE, THE LANDING GEAR SWITCH WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED. WHEN LIFTED THE LANDING GEAR REMAINED IN A PARTIALLY EXTENDED POSITION AND THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT OPERATE WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED TO THE AIRPLANE AND THE LANDING GEAR SWITCH WAS MANIPULATED. THE LANDING GEAR SUBSEQUENTLY LOWERED AND LOCKED WHEN THE EMERGENCY GEAR SYSTEM WAS UTILIZED. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SKINS, FRAMES, AND STRINGERS ON THE UNDERBELLY OF THE FUSELAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.