Narrative:

Upon approach; I lowered the landing gear and observed 3 gear-down indicator lights and lowered 15 degrees of flaps; then full flaps on short final. After the flare and initial touchdown; I felt the right main gear solidly touch down; but felt a 'mushing' sensation on the left side of the aircraft. I could feel the left main gear touch; but it felt as though the tire was flat; or that something was giving way. Convinced that there was some obvious problem with the landing gear; I applied full power and after confirming normal indications on all instruments; I commenced a go-around (consulted the balked landing checklist); called the tower and advised that I was going around and that I believed that I had a problem with the landing gear. At the suggestion of the tower controller; I then performed a fly-by near the control tower for visual confirmation of the status of the landing gear. The tower controller advised that it appeared that the right main gear was down; but the left main gear looked as though it had partially collapsed. I performed 2 additional fly-bys for additional visual confirmation from the tower controller and then advised him (controller) that I was going to attempt a manual gear extension in an attempt to re-deploy the gear. I then referred to the landing gear manual extension procedure in the emergency checklist. After reviewing the checklist; I then proceeded with the manual gear extension procedure step by step. The gear hand crank mechanism turned only approximately 18 revolutions before it stopped. However; during the process of turning the hand crank mechanism; I noticed that at times the crank was very difficult to turn; and then other times it seemed to free-wheel while then becoming difficult again at other times. This seemed to indicate to me that there may have been a stripped or damaged portion of the gear extension internal mechanism. After the hand crank seemed to reach its down limit; I observed once again the 3 green gear down indicator lights. After the manual gear extension procedure; I then performed several more fly-bys near the tower so the controller could offer visual confirmation that the left main gear appeared to now be fully down; which he did. After being cleared to land; I then commenced a landing on runway normally without further problems noticed from the landing gear. Upon shutdown of the engines; I noticed that the very tips of the left propeller were grazed and slightly curled due to apparent contact with the runway surface upon the first landing attempt when the left main gear partially gave way. The aircraft is still grounded. In summary; it seems that there had to have been some type of malfunction of the gear mechanism since the right main gear was deployed and held the weight of the aircraft; while the left main gear partially collapsed at time of initial touchdown. The partial collapse of the left main gear was confirmed by the tower controller. I feel that if I had not commenced a go-around at the time of initial touchdown that there would have been much more serious damage to the aircraft wing; fuel tanks; structure; spar; right main gear due to side stresses and in turn possible catastrophic damage to the entire aircraft which could have also resulted in personal injury or death. I feel that the go-around decision was the best and only decision available at that point and time. As far as what the exact cause of the problem may have been; it will be difficult to formulate any viable conclusions until the gear assembly is inspected; disassembled and repaired. The timeframe for repair is undetermined at this point in time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Suspecting an unsafe gear condition; the Pilot of a Beechcraft 58 initiated a rejected landing.

Narrative: Upon approach; I lowered the landing gear and observed 3 Gear-Down Indicator lights and lowered 15 degrees of flaps; then full flaps on short final. After the flare and initial touchdown; I felt the right main gear solidly touch down; but felt a 'mushing' sensation on the left side of the aircraft. I could feel the left main gear touch; but it felt as though the tire was flat; or that something was giving way. Convinced that there was some obvious problem with the landing gear; I applied full power and after confirming normal indications on all instruments; I commenced a go-around (consulted the Balked Landing checklist); called the Tower and advised that I was going around and that I believed that I had a problem with the landing gear. At the suggestion of the Tower Controller; I then performed a fly-by near the Control Tower for visual confirmation of the status of the landing gear. The Tower Controller advised that it appeared that the right main gear was down; but the left main gear looked as though it had partially collapsed. I performed 2 additional fly-bys for additional visual confirmation from the Tower Controller and then advised him (Controller) that I was going to attempt a manual gear extension in an attempt to re-deploy the gear. I then referred to the Landing Gear Manual Extension procedure in the Emergency checklist. After reviewing the checklist; I then proceeded with the manual gear extension procedure step by step. The gear hand crank mechanism turned only approximately 18 revolutions before it stopped. However; during the process of turning the hand crank mechanism; I noticed that at times the crank was very difficult to turn; and then other times it seemed to free-wheel while then becoming difficult again at other times. This seemed to indicate to me that there may have been a stripped or damaged portion of the gear extension internal mechanism. After the hand crank seemed to reach its down limit; I observed once again the 3 green gear down indicator lights. After the manual gear extension procedure; I then performed several more fly-bys near the Tower so the Controller could offer visual confirmation that the left main gear appeared to now be fully down; which he did. After being cleared to land; I then commenced a landing on runway normally without further problems noticed from the landing gear. Upon shutdown of the engines; I noticed that the very tips of the left propeller were grazed and slightly curled due to apparent contact with the runway surface upon the first landing attempt when the left main gear partially gave way. The aircraft is still grounded. In summary; it seems that there had to have been some type of malfunction of the gear mechanism since the right main gear was deployed and held the weight of the aircraft; while the left main gear partially collapsed at time of initial touchdown. The partial collapse of the left main gear was confirmed by the Tower Controller. I feel that if I had not commenced a go-around at the time of initial touchdown that there would have been much more serious damage to the aircraft wing; fuel tanks; structure; spar; right main gear due to side stresses and in turn possible catastrophic damage to the entire aircraft which could have also resulted in personal injury or death. I feel that the go-around decision was the best and only decision available at that point and time. As far as what the exact cause of the problem may have been; it will be difficult to formulate any viable conclusions until the gear assembly is inspected; disassembled and repaired. The timeframe for repair is undetermined at this point in time.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.