Aircraft equipment problem. Gear wouldn't extend.

Attributes
ACN	313316
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : l66
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1400 msl bound upper : 1400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cno tower : rdu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-24 Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 3 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	313316
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was on downwind at corona airport, ca, and tried to lower the gear. It was the first flight after my annual. The gear would not lower or show a safe light. Flew over to chino airport for a gear check. No gear. Attempted to lower on emergency. Only came down 1/2 way. Declared an emergency. Got comanche mechanic to the tower, still could not get a safe indication. Gear motor was disengaged and 150 pounds pressure on emergency gear lowering handle and gear broke loose and got a green light. Tower checked the gear down and locked. Returned to corona and landed without incident. Seats were removed and floor panels opened. Airplane was jacked and gear motor handle engaged. Electric and manual system operated normally. No foreign object damage found. Will send a letter of thanks to FAA ATCT for a job well done.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIP PROB. GEAR WOULDN'T EXTEND.

Narrative: I WAS ON DOWNWIND AT CORONA ARPT, CA, AND TRIED TO LOWER THE GEAR. IT WAS THE FIRST FLT AFTER MY ANNUAL. THE GEAR WOULD NOT LOWER OR SHOW A SAFE LIGHT. FLEW OVER TO CHINO ARPT FOR A GEAR CHK. NO GEAR. ATTEMPTED TO LOWER ON EMER. ONLY CAME DOWN 1/2 WAY. DECLARED AN EMER. GOT COMANCHE MECH TO THE TWR, STILL COULD NOT GET A SAFE INDICATION. GEAR MOTOR WAS DISENGAGED AND 150 LBS PRESSURE ON EMER GEAR LOWERING HANDLE AND GEAR BROKE LOOSE AND GOT A GREEN LIGHT. TWR CHKED THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED. RETURNED TO CORONA AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. SEATS WERE REMOVED AND FLOOR PANELS OPENED. AIRPLANE WAS JACKED AND GEAR MOTOR HANDLE ENGAGED. ELECTRIC AND MANUAL SYS OPERATED NORMALLY. NO FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE FOUND. WILL SEND A LETTER OF THANKS TO FAA ATCT FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.