Landing Gear Emergency Operation

Landing Gear Unsafe Indications

If an unsafe gear indication exists after moving the gear handle down, recycle the gear. If an unsafe condition still exists, use the landing gear emergency lowering procedures. Attempt to obtain a positive confirmation of the gear condition from the tower or chase plane. If gear appears to be down and locked, make normal landing and stop straight ahead. Do not taxi until gear ground safety pins have been installed.

Landing Gear Emergency Lowering

1. Airspeed—230-180 KIAS—Otherwise, air loads hold gear doors closed. Below 180 KIAS, gear might not lock down.
2. Landing gear handle—DOWN.
3. Landing gear emergency handle—PULL.
4. Landing gear position indicator—CHECK SAFE. The red warning light in the landing gear control handle should extinguish when the gear is down and locked, and landing gear position indicators should show safe indication. If these conditions are not present, proceed to step 5.
5. Gear position control circuit breaker—PULL. Pull gear position control circuit breaker on left circuit-breaker panel and repeat steps 1 through 4.

Landing With Any One Gear Up or Unlocked

If nose gear does not extend or lock down, or if one main gear does not extend and lock down (and the other cannot be retracted), proceed as follows:

1. External load—JETTISON

   Note

   If landing on a prepared surface, retain empty drop tanks to cushion landing shock, If time and conditions permit, fire all ammunition and expend excess fuel to lighten aircraft and minimize fire hazard.

2. Landing Gear—DOWN

3. Shoulder harness—LOCK
4. Speed brake—UP
5. Wing Flaps—DOWN
6. Throttle—OFF—Once landing is ensured.
7. Engine master switch—OFF
8. Fuel system shutoff switch—OFF
9. Touch down on extended gear. Hold opposite wing, or nose, off ground as long as possible, but lower while control is available.
10. Drag chute—DEPLOY
11. Battery switch—OFF

Main Gear Up or Belly Landing (Prepared Surface Only)

If an unsafe condition is confirmed for the main gear after the emergency lowering procedure is used or a belly landing is unavoidable, the following procedure should be used:

1. Landing gear position control circuit breaker—CHECK IN
2. Landing Gear—UP—Retract main gear so that landing can be made on nose gear and aft fuselage (or empty drop tanks).

3. External load—JETTISON—If necessary.

   Note

   Retain empty drop tanks to cushion landing shock and minimize aircraft damage.

4. Shoulder harness—LOCK

5. Drag chute—DEPLOY—Deploy drag chute while airborne, just before touchdown.
6. Normal touchdown.
7. Throttle—OFF—When landing is assured, move throttle to OFF.
8. Nose wheel steering—ENGAGE—Engage nose wheel steering if nose gear is extended.
9. Engine master switch—OFF
10. Fuel system shutoff switch—OFF
11. Battery switch—OFF

Landing on Unprepared Surfaces

Landings on unprepared surfaces are not recommended. If an emergency landing on an unprepared surface is unavoidable, it should be made with as many landing gear down as possible. Investigations have shown landings made on unprepared surfaces with the landing gear down result in fewer pilot injuries, and less damage to the aircraft when compared with those made with gear up.