N235N

On November 28, 2023, about 1828 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built, Lancair 235, N235N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stuart, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that about 5 months before the accident, he experienced a landing gear anomaly with the airplane. Specifically, the landing gear would not extend via the normal procedure and the pilot had to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure. He subsequently landed uneventfully. Following that event, a mechanic observed that a hydraulic pump failed due to a hydraulic leak in the nose landing gear actuator. The actuator was replaced and the hydraulic pump was overhauled.

During the accident flight, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear, but did not receive a “green light” cockpit indication for the nose landing gear. He performed the emergency landing gear extension procedure and ultimately received a green light for the nose landing gear during an airport flyby, in which ground personnel observed that the nose landing gear was extended. The pilot subsequently performed a soft-field landing; however, the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted the runway. The airplane veered left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright in a grassy area to the left of the runway.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The inspector also noted extensive streaking of hydraulic fluid on the lower left section of the airplane and the empennage beginning at the area between the fuselage and left wing root and flap.

The wreckage was further examined by a mechanic following its recovery. He noted that the left main landing gear strut had separated during the accident. The landing gear hydraulic pump operated normally and the landing gear downlock switches were found to be electrically operational. The hydraulic fluid reservoir was found to be low (approximately 25% filled), consistent with a hydraulic leak; however, due to impact damage, the mechanic could not determine the source of the hydraulic leak or fully test the landing gear system.