PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 350; Flight Crew Type 25
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Departed to the northeast; after leaving the Class D Airspace I contacted the TRACON for VFR Flight Following. Once past Class B airspace I turned direct and leveled at 6;500 FT. Once at cruise the Gear Unsafe warning light turned on and remained on. I slowed the aircraft to gear extension speed and lowered the landing gear. No gear down indication followed. At this time I alerted the Approach Controller of my situation and declared an emergency. At that time I turned back toward my departure airport and offset to the east at 5;000 FT to troubleshoot and attempt an emergency gear extension. I asked the Controller for traffic advisories in the area. I then leveled at 5;000 FT and retrieved the Emergency Checklist for Emergency Gear Extension. I alerted the passenger of our intentions; gave him a briefing in the event that the nose gear collapses and how to evacuate the aircraft and had him unlatch one latch on the main cockpit door; and then started the checklist for emergency gear extension. Ran the checklist in full; checked the gear lights in another location to ensure the lights were not failed then slowed the aircraft to emergency gear extension speed and engaged the emergency gear handle. The two main gear fell free and with slight wing rocking I received two gear locked indicators on the main gear. I pushed the nose forward and back and received a nose gear down and locked light but that light continued to flicker on and off for the remainder of the flight. I contacted the Controller and asked to continue to my destination. Once on frequency with Tower I asked for emergency crews and for a low flyby near the Tower. I was cleared for the option on 27L and preformed a low flyby near the Tower. The Tower Controller then informed me that the gear appeared down. I then asked to land on Runway 17. I preformed a right hand 270 degree turn to set up for a final on Runway 17. I received my clearance to land on Runway 17 and touched down holding the nose gear off for as long as possible. All gear held in the down and locked position. I then taxied to our hangar without damage or injury. Upon preflight inspection there was no hydraulic fluid present on the fuselage or under the wing or on the gear. Upon post flight inspection there was an abundance of hydraulic fluid on the right side of the fuselage; in the right main gear well; on the right gear and fluid dripping from the seems where the wing meets the fuselage. The right main strut was angled slightly inboard but no other damaged was present on the aircraft. There were no injuries or fatalities. The aircraft flew the previous day with no issues or indications that there may be a problem with the gear. The controllers were very helpful and attentive once I declared the emergency.
A PA32 hydraulic system failed in flight because of an apparent main landing gear malfunction so the pilot used the emergency checklist to extend the gear and land safely at his departure airport.