Small plane lands safely after landing gear issue

GILFORD — When the pilot of a single-engine plane notified Laconia Municipal Airport there was trouble with the landing gear on Sunday, Gilford police and fire departments responded, but the crisis was averted and the aircraft landed safely.

Airport Manager Marv Everson said at about 2 p.m. on March 8, the airport received a call from a pilot who said the landing gear was not responding. Everson said the protocol is the staff member on the intercom will take the call and decide the severity of the situation. He was not at the airport when the pilot radioed in, but was notified, and said “precautionary” measures were taken.

“It was all out of precaution, because they were far enough out and had time in the air to work out the situation,” Everson said. “It landed without incident.”

Everson said  while in the air, the pilot was able to “pump down” the landing gear, and land without incident. There was no damage to the plane, and no injuries were reported.

Airport leaders contacted the Gilford Fire Department, and Chief Steve Carrier said his department was set up at the main terminal, knowing there was a possible landing gear problem. He said despite the issue being handled before the plane reached the ground, emergency personnel were onsite as precaution.

The plane was coming from Portland, Maine, and as of Monday morning, it was still onsite at the airport for fixed based operators to evaluate the issue, and make any necessary repairs.

“Both of our FBOs, Sky Bright and Emerson, have mechanics on duty who take care of that,” Everson said.

Jason Leavitt, aeronautics UAS planner for the state Department of Transportation, was not notified, but said the pump down method described by Everson is “typical" for this situation.

Everson said this doesn’t happen often, but two summers ago, a small experimental aircraft also had issues with landing gear. The aircraft, which had two pilots, landed with one of the wheels still up. Everson said the plane was small enough to be able to decrease speed and avoid a rough landing. No injuries were reported in that scenario, but there was damage to the nose of the plane.