Date: 201208
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Golden Eagle 421
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Test Flight / Demonstration
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class C ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Nose Gear
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Workload; Distraction; Training / Qualification
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: My copilot and I were conducting a post maintenance check flight. We were checking everything in general and specifically the aircraft's Engine Data Monitor (EDM) that had just been upgraded and calibrated at a local avionics shop. A thorough pre-flight on the airplane indicated all in order. We ran all the corresponding cockpit checklists and again no noted discrepancies. On takeoff when I selected gear up the landing gear circuit breaker popped out. The green nose gear down indicator light went out but the main gear down lights remained on. The red gear in transit light illuminated and remained lit for the remainder of the flight. I tried resetting the circuit breaker but to no avail. We departed the traffic pattern to where we could work on the problem with fewer distractions. My copilot pulled out the emergency checklists and we executed everything that seemed applicable; e.g. resetting the circuit breaker-would not reset; emergency gear down procedures-no response; recycling gear; master switch etc no response. After multiple attempts with no noticeable effects I opted to return to our airport of departure; do a low approach and request a visual confirmation by Tower and ground personnel. We were advised that all three gears were down but the nose gear appeared to be cocked at an angle and possibly not locked. I then flew to the local practice area to burn off a little more fuel and run through the emergency procedures again. I also tried pitching up abruptly in an attempt to swing the nose gear into the locked position. We did one more low pass and were advised that the nose gear was still in the same position. I flew back out a few miles; called for the emergency checklist for landing with a flat nose tire (which was the closet to our situation) requested landing clearance and set up a stabilized approach. We did a final review of the emergency landing procedures and crew assignments. Over the runway on short final I pulled the mixtures to idle cut off; feathered the props and pulled the throttles all the way back. My copilot put the fuel selectors in the off position. I landed in a nose high position and held the nose off as long as possible. As our airspeed diminished the nose settled onto the runway and curled the still windmilling props; which was pretty much the extent of the damage incurred. We concluded the shut down checklist and verified all fuel; electrical and related systems were off. We exited the aircraft with no difficulty and were received by the airports emergency personnel and management who did an excellent and professional job during the whole scenario. I believe we did all that was humanly possible in dealing with the foregoing situation and I am grateful to my copilot who was immensely helpful and disciplined throughout.


Second narrative: We took the C421 for a test flight. After takeoff; we selected the landing gear in the up position. As the nose landing gear started to retract the landing gear circuit breaker popped; leaving the nose landing gear unsecured and the main landing gear down and locked. We got the indication that the landing gear was not secured. We went through the checklist and tried to lower the gear using the emergency extension procedure; which did not work.After burning some fuel; we decided to land with the nose landing gear up.


Synopsis: A C421 landing gear circuit breaker popped after takeoff; leaving the main gear down and locked but the nose gear out of the down position. After completing all checklists; an emergency landing was completed with the nose gear collapsing on landing.