20240904014229A

WHILE LANDING AT THE PIC’S HOME AIRPORT AFTER A 50-MINUTE FLIGHT A WIND GUST CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A 3–4-FOOT RISE. THE PIC CONTINUED TO LAND AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING. THE PIC STOPPED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE CONTINUING TO HIS HANGAR TO PARK THE AIRCRAFT. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE PIC’S ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^FLEW THE AIRCRAFT. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AFTER TAKEOFF HE ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR BUT THE GEAR IN TRANSIT LIGHT STAYED ON. HE CYCLED THE LANDING GEAR MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE RETURNING TO LAND BACK AT HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, AND ALL THREE DOWN LOCK LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND TAXIED TO PARKING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER AND HIS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND, NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN REACHED OUT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID HE COULD LOOK AT IT THE FOLLOWING DAY IF THEY FLEW IT TO HIM. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLEW IT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT LEAVING THE LANDING GEAR DOWN FOR THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL THEN JACKED THE AIRCRAFT AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR CONFIRMING THE GEAR IN TRANSIT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE INSPECTING THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED A BROKEN TUBE IN THE ENGINE MOUNT WHICH PREVENTED THE GEAR FROM FULLY RETRACTING. THE FAA AND THE NTSB WERE THEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE DAMAGE. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIR. THE REPAIR FACILITY CUT OUT THE DAMAGED PORTION OF THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THE SAME UNDAMAGED SECTION FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MOUNT. PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE WERE SENT TO THE NTSB FOR ANALYSIS. THE NTSB REPORTED CORROSION INSIDE THE TUBES OF THE ENGINE MOUNT AND REQUESTED THE PIECES TO BE SENT TO THE NTSB LAB FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.