Commander 114/A/B/TC
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11.5; Flight Crew Total 983; Flight Crew Type 983
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
[I] had a landing gear extension problem. No green or in transit light. Asked ATC to see if gear was down and they advised low pass and I complied. ATC said they could not see gear down. I departed the pattern to work on the issue. Despite efforts to lower gear no green lights or in transit light would come on. [I] used my emergency landing gear checklist and gear extended per the checklist. Heard the gear thumps and had 2 green for the mains. [I] slowed the airplane per checklist and around 85 KTS felt and heard nose gear drop. Had 3 green. On final called ATC and asked for visual on the gear. Was advised all three were down. Landed as slow as possible and it was a normal landing.After discussing the problem with maintenance personnel and knowing the gear issue was isolated by the circuit breaker I placarded the gear lever and the circuit breaker in case I got distracted during takeoff or landing and flew the airplane with the wheels down direct to my airport and landed normally.
When the normal landing gear extension system failed the pilot of a Commander 114 utilized the emergency extension procedure; was rewarded with three green lights; and landed safely.