Incident Overview
A certificated private pilot was conducting multiple touch-and-go landings at an airport. During the fourth landing, the air traffic control tower requested the pilot to extend the downwind leg of the approach. The pilot later stated that this change in the landing pattern caused a distraction from his normal procedures, leading him to inadvertently omit the landing gear extension.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The pilot reported that he was operating the engine at approximately 2,000 RPM to manage a crosswind landing. The airplane's landing gear warning horn is designed to activate when the throttle is reduced below 1,700 RPM. Because the engine remained above that threshold, the horn did not sound, eliminating an auditory cue that might have alerted the pilot to the gear-up configuration.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had been performing several touch-and-go landings without incident. On the fourth approach, following the tower's instruction to continue the downwind, the pilot's attention shifted to accommodating the altered pattern. This deviation from the established routine resulted in the failure to complete the landing gear checklist item. The aircraft subsequently touched down with the gear retracted.
Pilot Account
In his statement, the pilot attributed the oversight to the distraction caused by the pattern change. He explicitly stated that he did not extend the landing gear because he was preoccupied with the revised approach configuration. No further details on the outcome of the landing or any resulting damage were provided in the source.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the critical role of procedural adherence and the potential for distraction to disrupt well-practiced routines. The lack of an audible gear warning, due to the elevated engine RPM, further compounded the situation.