G2 Heritage (Glasair II) / G3 Heritage (Glasair III)
Flight Crew Private; Other tailwheel
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 100; Flight Crew Type 4
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On takeoff when retracting the gear; heard a pop or bang during retraction and saw three red. Pulled the hydraulic breakers. opened the hydraulic dump valve to attempt an emergency extension. Immediately noticed two green (main gear). Nose gear appeared up. Performed fly-by of tower to; tower reported nose gear was up. Circled south of field at ~2;000 feet AGL and attempted to get nose gear down. Hand pump was not effective. [I] attempted to shake gear loose with increased load factor; got nose gear door open; but did not get nose gear over-center. Requested priority handling; circled overhead for trucks to stage- plenty of fuel and no hurry. Shut down engine on short final (over the runway) and bumped the prop horizontal with starter. Successfully landed with main gear extended and nose gear in the well. No injuries of any kind. Problem appears to be caused by failed hydraulic line- Inadequately crimped fitting. Failed line is on right main gear actuator gear up pressure side. Line 'popped' off during initial retraction. All hydraulic fluid pumped overboard through newly open line. Secondary hand pump to extend gear does no good without fluid.
Pilot reported a hydraulic line failed on takeoff; causing the gear to remain up and locked. Pilot elected to make an air turn back and landed with the nose landing gear still up.