bcbender10

Yes. Each incident, per the EP in the POH.

Thanks for your reply. I, too, suspect root cause is a mechanical issue. Unknown on landing gear rigging. No issues on pre-buy and the landing gear cycled just fine on the pre-buy flight. When the landing gear doesn't retract, I follow the EP in the POH to the letter. (I'm a former navy nuke power officer. I'm good at following procedures!). The EP includes (from memory fo this post reply) pulling the gear actuator circuit breaker and moving the switch to the "down" position (from "up"), reseting the actuator circuit breaking and trying again. then pushing gear bypass button. This is a failure to retract issue, not a gear extension issue. There is no option/capability to hand-crank the gear up. I'm not the praying and random action type, especially when it comes to unexpected conditions covered in EPs. Seems like I'll be enjoying Arrow speeds at high fuel flows for a ferry flight to LASAR from SMO!

Hello Mooney world, General broadcast for insight into a recurring landing gear retraction issue. Yesterday the landing gear failed to retract for the 3rd time. My A&P (Andres Gonzales at Bill's Air Center at SMO) temporarily fixed the issue twice before. However, he has suggested I take the plane elsewhere for a repair. He reports the issue is very challenging to troubleshoot. I purchased 43PG on Aug 30. On my initial checkout with Paul Kortopates, the gear failed to retract on the 4th take off at SMO. Andres troubleshot and identified the "Up" relay to the solenoid as the issue. Both the "up" and "down" relays were replaced. Andres reported "about 50" successful gear cycles on jacks in the shop. The plane was returned to service. I completed my check out with Paul, putting about 20 additional cycles on the gear with no issues. The day after my sign off, I flew to Glendale, AZ about 1.6 hours at 15,500ft. On departure from GEU, gear did not retract. I elected to fly back to SMO (POH EP allows continuation of flight, if desired. I wanted Andres to troubleshoot and conditions were day VFR). Andres identified a loose electrical connection at the wire into the solenoid. He reported replacing washers with lock washers (and stated the leads were tight in the inspection in the first repair). Plane was returned to service. On Friday evening I put 5 cycles on the landing gear. Saturday morning the gear retracted fine (6 total cycles). On Saturday I flew to MMH (about 1.6 hours at 14,500 ft). Gear did not retract on departure from MMH. Very dangerous situation with density altitude at 9,500 ft. I landed at MMH to see if a landing cycle would reset/correct a limit switch or relay. Gear did not retract on next take off. Plane is currently at SMO. Correlation is not cause, but are the >1 hour flights at higher altitudes related? Extremely concerning, costly, and inconvenient for this issue to appear the last 2x on long x-country trips. Indications are always the same: Gear down light is lit the entire time; "Gear Unsafe" light never illuminates; mechanical indication is "Green/gear down". My plane is going into annual and to fix a number of squawks at LASAR on November 20th. I'm concerned that even if they fix the issue, it will reappear after 5-20 cycles unless a root cause is identified and addresses. Not sure what to check/investigate/do now. My A&P is out of ideas.

Check out my profile pic! So far ground bound until Paul teaches me how to fly a fire-breathing turbo

Paul Kortopates. Fortunately, I live somewhat near him here in SoCal. Can't wait to fly later this week.

Thanks Paul M and M201MKTurbo! Exactly the info and guidance I was looking for.

To close the loop on this thread... I'm the proud new owner of a 1998 Encore! Hoping to get checked out this weekend. Can't wait to get in the air... Thanks for your suggestions!

How would I know if there's an ICA for the bottle in my plane (a 1998 Encore)?

Hi Mooney K and Rocket owners, I'm seriously considering purchasing an M20K Rocket to upgrade from my current, well-equipped 1976 Arrow II. I'm new to the Mooney community, but have loved the look, speed, and efficiency of Mooney's since the 80s. I'm a PPL pilot with an instrument rating, about 530hrs TT and 330 hrs in an Arrow. If you're in the SoCal area and would like to share your experiences as an owner (I'm all ears) and a familiarization flight, please reply in the comments. Thanks! -Brian