The pilot reported that about five months before the accident, he experienced a landing gear anomaly with the Lancair 235. Specifically, the landing gear would not extend via the normal procedure and the pilot had to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure. He subsequently landed uneventfully.
Following that event, a mechanic observed that a hydraulic pump failed due to a hydraulic leak in the nose landing gear actuator. The actuator was replaced and the hydraulic pump was overhauled.
During the accident flight in November 2023, he attempted to extend the landing gear, but did not receive a “green light” cockpit indication for the nose landing gear. He performed the emergency landing gear extension procedure and ultimately received a green light for the nose landing gear during an airport fly-by, in which ground personnel observed that the nose landing gear was extended.
The pilot performed a soft-field landing at the airport in Stuart, Florida. However, the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted the runway. The airplane veered left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright in a grassy area to the left of the runway.
Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The inspector also noted extensive streaking of hydraulic fluid on the lower left section of the airplane and the empennage beginning at the area between the fuselage and left wing root and flap.
The wreckage was further examined by a mechanic following its recovery. He noted that the left main landing gear strut had separated during the accident.
The landing gear hydraulic pump operated normally and the landing gear downlock switches were found to be electrically operational.
The hydraulic fluid reservoir was found to be low (approximately 25% filled), consistent with a hydraulic leak. However, due to impact damage, the mechanic could not determine the source of the hydraulic leak or fully test the landing gear system.
Probable Cause: A landing gear collapse due to a hydraulic fluid leak in the landing gear system.
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This November 2023 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.
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