20240314005879I

On March 14, 2024, a private pilot operated a Cessna T337G aircraft as pilot-in-command. The pilot indicated that his aircraft departed Paine Field (kpae) and was traveling to chelan (S10). The pilot reports that they had received flight following for this trip. Once arriving to chelan airport, the pilot entered a left downwind for runway 20. Preparing for the landing phase of flight, the pilot moved the gear selector handle down to engage the landing gear. While keeping their hands on the lever, the pilot waited for the “gear down” light to illuminate. After an unusually long time, it did not give the typical sound or light indication that the gear extended into position. The pilot looked out the window to verify the gear has extended into proper landing position. The pilot verified that the gear had not come down. The pilot then broke out of the landing phase of the flight and removed the aircraft from the airport environment. Once away from the airport, the pilot tried to cycle the gear again with no avail. The gear power pack was running as evidenced by the sound and the “motor running” light that indicated the pump is powered in the “on” position.

At this time, the pilot considered the options. The pilot indicated; enough fuel was onboard to trouble shoot the situation. The pilot cycled the breaker and tried to lower the landing gear, however, this did nothing as the gear did not come down. The pilot pulled out the pilot operating handbook to continue the search query. The pilot executed the “landing gear fails to extend” section of the emergency procedures, again without any advancements in getting the landing gear to extend. It was at this time the pilot made the realization that a gear up landing may occur. The pilot checked the avialble fuel amount and had enough fuel to return to Paine Field which had a longer runway, emergency services and trauma centers located nearby if they were needed. The pilot then turned the aircraft around and headed back to Paine Field.

The pilot reports that about 30 miles west of chelan airport, the pilot raised seattle center on 121.5 and advised the emergency and the intentions to land at Paine Field. Once the aircraft was closer to Paine Field, the controller offered the pilot to hold at eywok. This gave the pilot time to trouble shoot more by contacting the airplanes mechanic, IA, and a certified flight instructor. Over the course of 60-90 minutes, all the trouble shooting tactics had failed and the gear was still in the “up” position. At approximately 80LBS of fuel remaining, the pilot advised ATC it was time to land. ATC had passed the pilot off to the tower to whom which the pilot advised the landing was going to be a gear up landing and requested emergency services. The pilot depressurized per the POH, unlocked the cabin door, and extended full flaps. On short final, the pilot shut off the front engine, feathered and touched the starter to move the prop horizontal to avoid engine damage. Once over the field the pilot repeated for the rear engine, killed the masters, and closed the fuel valves. Runway contact came sooner than the pilot expected, and the pilot had to use hard right rudder as the plane leaned to port. Once completely stopped, the pilot exited and met the firefighters who were there about a minute after the aircraft came to a stop.