Accident Piper PA-28R-200 CGKBJ, Friday 17 December 1982

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Date:	Friday 17 December 1982
Time:	17:10 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28R-200
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	CGKBJ
MSN:	28R35640
Year of manufacture:	1970
Total airframe hrs:	1744 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-C1C
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Cut Bank, MT - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Eston, SASKATCH (JR4)
Destination airport:	Reno, NV (4SD)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ENROUTE. ON ARRIVAL, THE PILOT SELECTED GEAR DOWN, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT LOWER. HE MISIDENTIFIED THE OPERATION OF THE EMERGENCY GEAR DOWN SWITCH AND PUSHED IT UP INSTEAD OF DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE THE APPROACH WITH HIGH POWER AND ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS. THIS WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED THE AIRCRAFT'S AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, AN ALTERNATOR OUT WIRE WAS FOUND BROKEN WHERE IT CONNECTED TO A TERMINAL LUG.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: