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 - BETWEEN 230 and 180 KIAS. Reduce airspeed to between 230 and 180 KIAS. Otherwise, air loads may hold gear doors closed. Below 180 KIAS, gear may 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 go out 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.

    Note

    Yaw airplane to lock main gear if gear down-and-locked indication does not appear after 15 seconds.

    Note

    Nose gear cannot be retracted in flight after being lowered by means of the landing gear emergency lowering handle.

    Caution

    Do not pull G in attempt to aid in locking gear down, as use of G increases landing gear lowering time and may cause damage to gear mechanism.

Landing With Any One Gear Up or Unlocked

Note

If either or both main landing gear cannot be locked down, an approach end arrestment should be considered if suitable barrier facilities are available.

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 airplane and minimize fire hazard.

  2. Gear — DOWN.

  3. Shoulder harness — Lock.
  4. Speed brake — UP.
  5. Flaps — DOWN.
  6. Throttle — OFF when 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.

    Note

    Turn fuel system shutoff switch OFF before battery switch is turned OFF, so that battery power is available to close the fuel shutoff valve.

    Note

    Battery switch must be ON, if nose wheel steering or antiskid is required.

Main Gear Up or Belly Landing (Prepared Surface Only)

Note

If either or both main landing gear cannot be locked down, an approach end arrestment should be considered if suitable barrier facilities are available.

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. 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 airplane 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.
  9. Fuel system shutoff switch — OFF.

  10. Battery switch — OFF.

    Note

    Turn fuel system shutoff switch OFF before battery switch is turned OFF, so that battery power is available to close the fuel shutoff valve.

    Note

    Battery switch must be ON, if nose wheel steering or antiskid is required.

Landing on Unprepared Surfaces

Landings on unprepared surfaces are not recommended. However, if an emergency landing on an unprepared surface is unavoidable, it should be made with as many landing gear down as possible. Investigation has shown that landings made on unprepared surfaces with the landing gear down have resulted in less pilot injury and less damage to the airplane than those made with gear up. Empty drop tanks should be retained to cushion impact loads and minimize airplane damage as much as possible.