PA-18/19 Super Cub
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Air Traffic Control Military 1; Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 19000; Flight Crew Type 250
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
Departed a marina for ZZZ for prop servicing. On descent to land at ZZZ float gear would not extend. Performed emergency extension but gear would only go to an intermediate position before all hydraulic pressure was lost. Unable to contact anyone at ZZZ; declared urgency on Guard and with Approach. Diverted to ZZZ1 for low level approach to check gear configuration confirming only left nose gear down. Circling nearby used steep bank to recover some hydraulic fluid to pump and rapid pitch movements to lower gear. All but front right nose gear showed green and locked. Executed full flap soft field landing to Runway XXR. On contact with mains; front gear locked in place and gently pitched forward to gently place weight on nose gear. Aircraft was able to taxi short distance to FBO for inspection. On inspection; the primary gear hydraulic line had made contact with the lower cowling wearing a hole in the cowling. The rough edges of the hole in the cowling cut into the stainless steel jacked hydraulic line causing catastrophic loss of hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic line was replaced with new; line verified for proper clearance from cowling; gear cycled 5 times and aircraft returned to service.
Piper pilot reported that float gear would not extend; causing a diversion and precautionary emergency landing.