Beechcraft Twin Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 1300
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
I have owned this plane since 2000 and have used it for personal reasons. During that time; the plane was flown a total of 650 (estimated) hours. In March of 2011; my plane was flown to have its annual inspection. When the logs could not be found; I was advised an annual could not be completed without the logs or reconstructed logs but that a 100 hour inspection would be given. The work was completed and I traveled to bring the plane home. After starting the engines and turning on the radios; I found both transceivers could only receive and unable to transmit. Unable to find an avionics repairman on the field; I traveled to an avionics store and purchased a hand held transceiver. Using the hand held transceiver; I departed and flew to my first fuel stop to top my tanks (due to cost of fuel). My flight was delayed about 1:30 minutes before flying to my next stop for additional fuel for the flight's duration to my final destination. Listing to ATIS; I heard the weather was deteriorating and encountered rain about 20 miles south of my destination where when dropping to pattern altitude I found my gear inoperable. Climbing back to altitude; I attempted to lower my gear manually but found the handle frozen. I determined the gear chain had clogged the gear sprocket and was unable to lower my wheels either way. The decision was made to 'belly land' on a grass strip in lieu of a paved strip for two reasons. Pavement and metal cause sparks and would have ignited a ruptured fuel tank. In addition; landing on a rural airport would have caused the airport to be closed for awhile causing expense and inconvenience. I therefore believed it prudent to land on a grass strip with which I was familiar. I was thoroughly familiar with the terrain and geography around a nearby airport since I had been flying out of there for the last 50 years. The landing was successful; damaging the flaps; belly and props. Approaching the Class C Airspace; I attempted to contact Approach with my hand held transceiver but was advised 'aircraft calling Approach is garbled and unreadable'. I continued to the airport with an uneventful landing on the grass strip. The following day; I notified the owner my plane was on his property. The FAA was notified when their offices were opened and I have completed and sent them a report. There were no injuries or property damage other than to my plane. My Medical Certificate had been revoked.
A BE18 pilot discovered his landing gear would not extend normally or manually. He elected to divert to a grass landing strip for a belly landing.