N8269A

On April 6, 1998, about 1015 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N8269A, registered to N8269A Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight experienced an unsafe landing gear condition (red landing gear warning light), about 140 nautical miles east of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The left main landing gear indicated an unsafe condition, and collapsed on landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated about 2 hours 5 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated in an interview with the FAA that while in cruise flight they smelled a fragrance similar to solvent. A short time later, the gear unsafe light illuminated, went out, repeated the sequence, and then remained on continuously. The Fort Lauderdale control tower was made aware of the situation and a fly-by was conducted. The tower informed the pilot that all three gears were down; however, the unsafe gear warning light remained illuminated. Yaw inputs, G-loading, and another fly-by was conducted with negative results. An approach to runway 08 was conducted. The left main landing gear collapsed on landing rollout, and the airplane collided with a runway light.

On-scene examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear would not fully extend. The O-rings in the hydraulic cylinder failed, and the hydraulic fluid had leaked out.