Each year, when I go from a warm climate to a cold climate in the Malibu, especially when the temperatures at altitude are extremely cold, there have been flights when I have not been able to get 3 green lights when I put the landing gear down. My usual flight that meets this description is from Jacksonville, Texas to Auburn, Indiana and the temperature in Indiana is below freezing upon landing with correspondingly frigid temperatures at cruising altitude. When this happens, I end up extending and retracting the landing gear a few times and I’ve always gotten the 3 green lights after repeated attempts.
Even when I did only get 1 or 2 green lights, I believe the landing gear actually did retract and lock properly. I just did not get the corresponding green light on each landing gear. I’ve talked with over with several mechanics who related that they think the landing gear light switch had some light oil and/or/general dirtiness on it which, when subjected to the extreme cold temperatures, would cause the switch to not operate properly.
Bottom line, if you fly to really cold climates, take a rag and clean off the landing gear area before flight. It may save you some worry as you are about to land.
