N110RVPiper PA-34-220T · 1981

On March 26, 2010, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N110RV, made a hard landing at the Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. During touchdown, the right engine's propeller blades and the right wing impacted the runway. Structural components in the right wing were bent, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor passenger was injured during the personal flight. The pilot owned and operated the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Sedona about 1529.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that after having lunch at the airport, he proceeded to his airplane with the intent of making a return flight to Scottsdale, Arizona. The airplane's left engine started without difficulty. However, the right engine would not start "due to a weak/low battery." The pilot acquired assistance from a local fixed base operator who supplied current from an external battery.

Initially, the right engine's amp meter indicated zero amps, but after increasing its power to 1,500 rpm, it indicated 5 amps. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to check all of the airplane's instruments, and he did not observe any anomalies that would preclude a safe flight back home.

Seconds after taking off from runway 21, the pilot attempted to retract the airplane’s landing gear. He stated that as soon as the landing gear position lever was moved up, "all electrical power went out.” The pilot opined that the landing gear did not properly retract, and the airplane’s climb performance decreased. He elected to immediately reverse course and return for landing on the opposite runway.

The pilot successfully reversed course, and he made a downwind landing with a “strong tailwind” on runway 03. The wind was from about 270 degrees at 15 knots, with gusts to 24 knots. The pilot indicated that the airplane touched down hard, and the right engine's propeller and wing impacted the runway.