Telltale Flicker

It was a beautiful fall morning, with clear skies. My five-year-old son and I wanted to get back in the air after annualing my Bellanca Super Viking a few weeks prior. We were feeling good about the airplane. Our adventure that morning: a simple sightseeing flight. As we established a positive climb rate, I cleaned up the airplane and adjusted power. But when I slid the gear lever to the "up" position, nothing happened.

Key Takeaways:

• During a sightseeing flight, a pilot experienced a critical landing gear malfunction where the nose gear failed to lock, necessitating an emergency landing.
• After exhausting all troubleshooting and emergency procedures, the pilot performed a controlled crash landing with his young son aboard.
• The landing resulted in the propeller striking the ground and the aircraft sliding on its belly, but both occupants safely evacuated.
• The pilot later learned that a previously dismissed flickering alternator light was a symptom of the electrical failure causing the gear issue, emphasizing the importance of investigating all warning signs.

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