PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 32; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 300
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Evacuated
Aircraft
After departing ZZZ; I noticed the EGT wasn't showing a reading for the #4 cylinder. I took a photo to show my mechanic when I got back; thinking maybe a sensor was broken; or had disconnected. Within the next few minutes; maybe 10; I noticed the battery indication was 13.5; which normally reads 14.5. Next time I looked; it was 11.5; then 11.1. All this was within first 20-25 minutes of flight. There was maybe a 5 min span with that 11.1 reading; and then the instrument went haywire; started recycling as if turned on for the first time; trying to reset; and then off again. It finally shut down. While this was happening; there was also flickering on and off of the radios as well: the 430; 396; and the 2nd radio. I lost the screen on the 430 several times within 20 minutes of landing; while still being able to hear Approach. I asked for a radio check; they replied. The second time the screen went blank; I heard Approach talking with another pilot. The dash then flickered again. I made another radio call check with no response from Approach. It was obvious there was an electrical system problem which my partner said he experienced before. I decided to move the gear switch to down early; and maintain my last given altitude of 4000 as long as possible. The greens came on as usual; and I noticed while the gear was cycling the dash flickered again; and then the dash went blank again. South of the field; I entered 7600; and entered an extended downwind leg. Upon descent the dash flickered several times; and gear lights still showed 3 greens while blinking. The last flicker was roughly [at] the south end of the field. I was not certain of gear down; so I modified my emergency extension procedures. I lowered the emergency extension switch during the descent; but I did not cycle the gear switch again for fear of starting an electrical fire; nor did I attempt to turn on light switches for the same reason. There was also no point in switching the bulbs because they weren't illuminating anymore; except for the last flicker maybe abeam or a third [of the way] down the runway. I was pretty high on that downwind leg; so I figured the drag from gear and flaps and a lower pattern power setting would bring me down nicely and descent occurred as expected; so I thought the gear may be down at this point; especially having dropped the emergency switch. I planned for a soft field landing hoping the gear was locked and secure. I put my final notch of flaps in about half a mile short of the field because I was getting bumped around pretty good; but wanted to use full flaps for the soft field landing. I would have only had second notch under those conditions otherwise. Once getting to the runway; I reduced power very slowly and held in ground effect for as long as possible. At the point the mains should have touched down; I simply continued slow back pressure to settle as gently as possible; realizing I had no gear. I did not want to add power and make the situation worse so close to the ground. The belly hit; during the slide the prop struck the ground and stopped turning. Once I came to a stop; I shut down everything; and got out. A guy on a motorcycle was the first to arrive. Once others started arriving; they took over to assist getting the plane off the runway. During this time; I did re-enter the aircraft to confirm the fuel was to the OFF position; and a guy requested turning the battery switch back on to view the dash when we did this; the gear lights were illuminated green. We turned switch back off; shut off the power button to the 396; as it was now back on due to its internal battery backup; and whatever ghost is causing the electrical issues; because the avionics switch was turned off before I exited the plane initially. The last observation is that when they lifted the plane off the ground with the tractors; the gear dropped and locked into place. Resultant damage was skin on the belly; flaps bent near the fuselage and prop strike.
When multiple systems started shutting down shortly after takeoff the pilot of a PA28 returned to his departure airport squawking 7600.  Although the landing gear; prior to complete loss of power; showed three green lights all three gear collapsed upon touchdown; then dropped into place and locked when the aircraft was lifted off the runway for transport.