Gear unsafe indication on final approach, executed go around to troubleshoot. Distraction checking o...

Attributes
ACN	321893
Time
Date	199511
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fcm
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fcm
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-24 Turbo Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 525 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	321893
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flying on IFR flight plan from msn, wi, to fcm, mn. Squawking assigned IFR transponder code. Was brought into class B airspace by ZMP. Turned over to msp approach and was given vector direct to fcm. When fcm was in sight, was given 'cleared for runway 27L visual approach, contact tower.' contacted fcm tower and cleared to land runway 27L fcm. On final I noted no green gear lights, and advised tower I had no green or unsafe gear indication and was going to do a missed to sort out the problem. As I passed over runway 27L tower checked with field glasses and advised me I had no gear visible. I advised I would climb to the west and try to sort out the situation as I circled west of fcm at the same time fcm tower advised me they would cancel my IFR flight plan. I climbed to 2500 ft MSL and began to trim for level flight. I reached to rear for my pilots operating manual and retrieved it. When I looked back I was passing through 3000 ft MSL. I lowered the nose, went back to 2500 ft MSL, reduced power, retrimmed for level flight. While turning to the south (I may have re-entered the class B airspace during my climb -- I am not sure, but know I was close). After following procedures, the problem was solved in a very short time and I turned east for a left downwind runway 27L fcm. I advised tower problem solved and was cleared to land runway 27L. At that time I was also advised I should be squawking 1200 on my transponder as my IFR had been canceled. I then changed my IFR squawk to 1200 and landed without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GEAR UNSAFE INDICATION ON FINAL APCH, EXECUTED GAR TO TROUBLESHOOT. DISTR CHKING OPS MANUAL, ACFT CLBED 500 FT AND POSSIBLY INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. GEAR PROB WAS RESOLVED AND ACFT LANDED UNEVENTFULLY.

Narrative: FLYING ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM MSN, WI, TO FCM, MN. SQUAWKING ASSIGNED IFR XPONDER CODE. WAS BROUGHT INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE BY ZMP. TURNED OVER TO MSP APCH AND WAS GIVEN VECTOR DIRECT TO FCM. WHEN FCM WAS IN SIGHT, WAS GIVEN 'CLRED FOR RWY 27L VISUAL APCH, CONTACT TWR.' CONTACTED FCM TWR AND CLRED TO LAND RWY 27L FCM. ON FINAL I NOTED NO GREEN GEAR LIGHTS, AND ADVISED TWR I HAD NO GREEN OR UNSAFE GEAR INDICATION AND WAS GOING TO DO A MISSED TO SORT OUT THE PROB. AS I PASSED OVER RWY 27L TWR CHKED WITH FIELD GLASSES AND ADVISED ME I HAD NO GEAR VISIBLE. I ADVISED I WOULD CLB TO THE W AND TRY TO SORT OUT THE SIT AS I CIRCLED W OF FCM AT THE SAME TIME FCM TWR ADVISED ME THEY WOULD CANCEL MY IFR FLT PLAN. I CLBED TO 2500 FT MSL AND BEGAN TO TRIM FOR LEVEL FLT. I REACHED TO REAR FOR MY PLTS OPERATING MANUAL AND RETRIEVED IT. WHEN I LOOKED BACK I WAS PASSING THROUGH 3000 FT MSL. I LOWERED THE NOSE, WENT BACK TO 2500 FT MSL, REDUCED PWR, RETRIMMED FOR LEVEL FLT. WHILE TURNING TO THE S (I MAY HAVE RE-ENTERED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE DURING MY CLB -- I AM NOT SURE, BUT KNOW I WAS CLOSE). AFTER FOLLOWING PROCS, THE PROB WAS SOLVED IN A VERY SHORT TIME AND I TURNED E FOR A L DOWNWIND RWY 27L FCM. I ADVISED TWR PROB SOLVED AND WAS CLRED TO LAND RWY 27L. AT THAT TIME I WAS ALSO ADVISED I SHOULD BE SQUAWKING 1200 ON MY XPONDER AS MY IFR HAD BEEN CANCELED. I THEN CHANGED MY IFR SQUAWK TO 1200 AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.

Gear unsafe indication on final approach, executed go around to troubleshoot. Distraction checking operations manual, aircraft climbed 500 ft and possibly into class B airspace. Gear problem was resolved and aircraft landed uneventfully.