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. 288
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:
- A pilot experienced a partial landing gear failure (nose gear stuck) shortly after takeoff in his Bellanca Super Viking with his five-year-old son on board.
- Despite extensive troubleshooting, the nose gear could not be locked down, leading to a controlled landing that resulted in a propeller strike and significant damage to the aircraft, though both occupants evacuated safely.
- The incident was later attributed to a failed gear motor brush, with the pilot regretting dismissing a flickering alternator light observed days prior, emphasizing the importance of investigating all electrical warnings.
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