This April 2008 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Lancair 320. Injuries: None. Location: Hillsboro, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight when it lost electrical power. The pilot went through emergency procedures to conserve electrical power and turned back to the airport. He attempted to extend the electrically operated landing gear, but only heard the right main gear come down and lock. There was no emergency gear extension system. The pilot performed a fly-by of the airport control tower. The air traffic controllers confirmed that the gear did not appear to be in the normal down and locked position.
When the plane landed, the nose gear and left main gear collapsed. The right main gear snapped off. The airplane went off the left side of the runway onto the grass, where the wing hit an intersection marker.
The post-accident examination revealed that the battery had a dead cell, and the alternator was malfunctioning.
Probable cause: The malfunction of the battery and alternator, which resulted in the failure of the landing gear to extend and lock in place.
For more information: NTSB.gov
If this was a normally built Lancair 320 the gear retraction is hydraulic with an electric pump. The manual/emergency gear extension is accomplished by releasing the hydraulic presure and should be done at leaat once a year. The handle to do that should close to the pilots right knee. Something is wrong with this report.