AOG @ ABQ -- Gear retraction failure M20K

[hemme]

Greetings,

Following an uneventful 3 hour flight and quick fuel top off at ABQ we have encountered a gear problem on takeoff that I would like opinion, assistance, advice, etc.

Symptoms are simply that the breaker blows on command for gear retraction and once reset the gear remains in the down and locked position.  

Since this is a mid-way point for our eastward travel what are the steps that can be undertaken (if any) on the ramp?  Clearly if we were  able to find a local shop I am sure the belly pan would be pulled and a ohm meter would be placed on the gear motor for a test.  Any other ideas?

Anyone had a similar experience and what was the end result?

Thinking the worst... where can I source a replacement gear motor for immediate use?

Thanks in advance for any assist.

Dan

[LFOD]

Did someone kick the emergency gear extension bar out of position? Dont ask me how I know. 

[LFOD]

  I remember when this happened to me. I could not figure out what the hell was wrong, then I remember someone telling me about this happening to them many years before.  Low and behold..

[hemme]

We will re-check the emergency gear lever...  the only possibility that it was disturbed was during the first leg when the co-pilot went to the baggage compartment looking for god knows what. 

If it was disturbed, shouldn't the gear have failed to correctly deploy on landing using the panel switch?

Thank you all.

Dan 

[carusoam]

The only things I can think of that get in the way of retraction are:

[1] Airspeed switch - should not trip circuit breaker, Push the overide button and gear would go up

[2] Emergency extension out of position - as mentioned above (highly likely)

[3] Something physically stuck in the system - check gear doors, control arms for anything that looks out of place or bent.

[4] Gear motor.

The emergency handle being out of place should give trouble in both directions.  Both going up and going down.

Good luck...

-a-

[Mcstealth]

Welcome to the forum if it hasn't been mentioned, and good luck. Keep us posted.

[Kwixdraw]

I had a similar issue with my J some years back. Would pop the breaker on climbout when the gear started to retract. Would not reset and retract until in level flight but then was normal. Turned out to be a short in the wire from the gear switch behind the radio stack. It was shorting against the tube structure. The gear tested fine on jacks and an IA spent most of a week trying to find the problem w/ no luck. Take the glareshield out and look for white powder on and around the wire loom. You may need to clip a couple tie wraps to see very far down in there.

[hemme]

Postscript:  Yes, it was the emergency gear lever being out of place that caused the gear retration and circuit failure.  Motor and switch all function correctly when in the proper place (go figure!).   I now have another thing to add to the preflight checklist. 

Trip home was uneventful and if we only had the proper quick-disconnects for the ox system we would have made better time with greater altitude.

Many thanks for the information--you saved me a trip to the maintenance shop--and for that, I am very grateful.

Dan

[LFOD]

Great news. 

[Amelia]

NOW y'all tell me....That happened to me a couple of months ago. Gear breaker wouldn't stay set. What the heck? Then I found the gear lever unhitched by sheerest accident. Too much help from small grandchildren, I think. Re-fastened the thing, smacked forehead with heel of hand, reset breaker, raised gear, all was well.   Live and learn.

[Mcstealth]

They were holding out on you Amelia. MEN!!! They just don't/won't communicate!

:)

[FlyingAggie]

Dan,

Welcome to MooneySpace and the M20K club.  Where is your home drome?

It is actually on the pre-take-off checklist in the manual, but easy to overlook.  Glad you were able to find the solution.

I hope you enjoy your K as much as I am enjoying mine.

Alan

Quote: hemme

Postscript:  Yes, it was the emergency gear lever being out of place that caused the gear retration and circuit failure.  Motor and switch all function correctly when in the proper place (go figure!).   I now have another thing to add to the preflight checklist. 

Trip home was uneventful and if we only had the proper quick-disconnects for the ox system we would have made better time with greater altitude.

Many thanks for the information--you saved me a trip to the maintenance shop--and for that, I am very grateful.

Dan

[Kwixdraw]

Always good to hear it was something simple.

[hemme]

Again, thank you all for the valuable information.

Home base is KBVY (North Boston).  We concluded the trip east in Lexington, KY for a scheduled stop.  The plane will come 'home' this week pending weather, work schedule and if we decide on a shop for interior work in the mid-west.  We only have the interior re-do on the punch list and the information on the forum has been very helpful for that endeavor.    

The trip included some very warm (non-standard) weather and the intercooler was dropping intake temps by more than 150 degrees.  The K is a truely great plane.  We couldn't be happier with the performance and economy.

Best to all,

Dan

[bug35man]

I had a total electric failure last week while in IMC.*  It got my attention, but sadly the manual gear extension procedure in the POH did not. It warned of exceeding the number of pulls on the cable. The laminated emergency card I use didn't include that and I exceeded the number of pulls on the cable.

Problem: the Eaton actuator is overextended and the whole mechanism is bound up tightly. Is there a way to get it backed off manually, perhaps by getting into the back of the motor or the gear drives? The multiple rod ends in the linkages are so tight that we can't get them disconnected without starting to destroy some of them. I am working with an experienced Mooney mechanic but neither of us have tangled with a jammed Eaton LG drive to this point. 

*(I found a hole in the overcast and ATC was following my skin paint radar signal all through this. The green light from tower never looked  so good!)

I'll much appreciate any suggestions from the group,

Cord