Originally published: December 2010
Now here’s a story of coincidence (I hope). On my Commercial check-ride we departed the airport, sucked the gear up, about 2 minutes later we get a “Gear Transit” light and despite following the procedures in the book, plus a few more we made up on the fly, we can’t get the gear to come up.
On my CFI check-ride we’ve flown all the maneuvers, we’re at a remote airport doing a few take-offs and landings, as we’re climbing out from one of them, guess what, “Gear Transit” stays on long after the gear should be up. Cycle the gear and this time when the gear is supposed to be going up we get a huge thump, the gear free-falling into place. Couldn’t get the gear back up then either.
Two check-rides, 2 Piper Arrows, I broke the gear on both of them. I’d say my landings must REALLY suck, but I passed both check-rides, so they can’t be that bad :-).
