Incident Overview
During a training flight, a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were practicing short field landing techniques. The CFI reported that as they entered the traffic pattern, they confirmed the landing gear was extended and locked. Flaps were extended, and they continued in the pattern to practice a short field landing approach.
Sequence of Events
After crossing an imaginary 50-foot obstacle at an altitude of 100 feet, power was reduced. On the initial touchdown, the aircraft bounced back into the air several feet. On the second touchdown, the aircraft settled onto its belly and slid down the runway. The landing gear handle was found in the up position, and the gear had retracted.
Post-Incident Examination
The CFI speculated that the gear handle may have moved from the down and locked position to the up position inadvertently. However, when the normal and emergency gear systems were tested after the incident, both operated normally, and no malfunction was found. The gear retraction cycle time from full down to full up was recorded as 6 seconds.
Findings
No mechanical or system anomalies were identified. The gear handle's position change remains unexplained.