The Cessna T210 reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the airport in Chandler, Arizona, he was distracted looking for other aircraft and failed to continue the landing checklist, but assumed it was completed.
During approach, he reduced power, but did not hear the landing gear warning horn. He landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The pilot added that, during the recovery process with a tow truck, they attempted to troubleshoot the landing gear warning system, but they did not hear the landing gear warning horn again.
Post-accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the landing gear audible warning horn switch on the bulkhead was improperly rigged and the horn did not sound when tested.
He added the airplane was equipped with a mirror on the right wing the pilot could have used to visually check if the landing gear was extended.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s distraction while looking for other aircraft in the traffic pattern, which resulted in his failure to follow a prelanding checklist and to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the improperly rigged landing gear warning switch, which prevented an audible warning sound.
This March 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Too bad. This happened a couple of years ago to a Cherokee Lance guy where I am based who had owned the airplane many years. Performance is another way to alert the pilot – that should be quite different descending to the runway – without the gear down, the airplane is much harder to slow down and would require far less power. That should raise alarm bells.
Rote learning producing key responses. GUMP once through the whole process….No horn, no worry.
When I bought my PA32 300 the buzzer in the middle of the panel had the wire cut. We fixed and now it works. It belongs working no matter how you hate the noise.
Thanks for helping the insurance companies make their case against 210 pilots. bk