AAIB investigation to Rockwell Commander 114, G-BFXS
Gear up landing, Little Snoring Airfield, Norfolk, 20 May 2020.
Summary:
The pilot was planning to complete two landings at Little Snoring Airfield before flying to Old Buckenham Airfield in order to complete the required three landings in 90 days prior to flying with passengers. He took off from Runway 07 and completed the first circuit without incident. As he was flying downwind in the second circuit another pilot asked him to extend his circuit to allow them to takeoff. He extended downwind then made his approach to land. He thought he had completed his normal downwind checks, which would normally include extending the landing gear, and on final approach he made his normal “red, blue, greens” landing checks. However, on landing the propeller and fuselage struck the runway and he realised the landing gear was not selected down. The landing gear warning horn did not sound. The pilot was uninjured and was able to exit the aircraft unaided.
The pilot had not flown for several months and he thinks that the lack of recency combined with the distraction of extending the circuit caused him to forget to extend the landing gear. He believes that on final approach he glanced inside and saw the GPS green light and mistook it for the landing gear green lights.
The landing gear warning horn did not sound because the pilot had selected only partial flap, intending to complete a touch-and-go. The landing gear warning horn sounds when the landing gear is not down and either the flaps are extended beyond 25° or when the throttle is retarded below a position corresponding to a manifold pressure of approximately 14 inches of mercury.
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