What happened
On 4 August 2025, an amateur-built Lancair IV departed Orange Airport, New South Wales, at 0652 local time, intending to fly to Bankstown Airport.
During cruise, the aircraft sustained an electrical system failure, resulting in numerous electrically driven systems failing. The pilot then made the decision to conduct an air return to Orange Airport, rather than continue the flight towards Bankstown.
Orange Airport consists of primary runway 11/29 which is 2,213 m long and is a sealed surface with a secondary runway 04/22 which is a 964 m long unsealed surface.
Due to the electrical malfunction, several systems of the aircraft were impacted, including the landing gear and VHF radio communication systems. The pilot used their mobile phone to communicate with a ground station to aid in facilitating their arrival at Orange Airport.
As the landing gear system is electrically controlled and hydraulically operated, due to the electrical failure, the primary method of the gear extension was not functional.
During the initial approach to the primary runway, the pilot manually selected the landing gear ‘down’ to extend the landing gear. Once manually selected ‘down’, the undercarriage extension indicator showed that only the nose gear had locked ‘down’, indicating (green), with the main gear, not indicating that it had ‘locked’ down (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Generic representation of landing gear selection
Source: ATSB representation of landing gear selection and indication. May not be indicative to type of aircraft.
The pilot proceeded to conduct several low passes of the runway to try to ascertain the condition of the landing gear with people on the ground.
However, after not being able to confirm the gear was fully down and locked, the pilot then made the decision to conduct a precautionary landing on the non-sealed cross strip, runway 04.
The pilot conducted the approach and landed, however on touchdown the main undercarriage legs collapsed, and the aircraft slid on the nosewheel (front of the aircraft) and rudder (rear of the aircraft) before coming to rest at the fence at the end of the runway.
The aircraft incurred some minor damage (Figure 2) to the wingtip and elevator with no injuries to the pilot.
Figure 2: Damage to aircraft
Source: Operator, annotated by the ATSB
Subsequent engineering inspections found the electrical system had failed due to a defective voltage regulator.
Safety message
This occurrence illustrates that a good knowledge of aircraft systems coupled with sound decision‑making can help facilitate a positive outcome to an emergency.
Aircraft rely on hydraulic or electrical systems to extend and retract the landing gear. Should any component in these systems fail, pilots may be left with no choice but to manually extend the undercarriage or potentially execute a wheels-up landing.
Applying a structured and proactive approach to identifying and managing threats and errors, influences the safety of the flight.
In this instance, the pilot was able to identify the aircraft system failure and make several calculated risk-based decisions to manage the emergency. This was achieved by using various resources at their disposal, such as their mobile phone, to seek ground assistance in the absence of normal VHF radio.
In emergency situations, pilots need to utilise all the available resources at their disposal. Maintaining a degree of flexibility and adapting to select the most appropriate landing area can minimise risk, limit damage and maximise survivability.
About this report
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.