Incident Overview
During a landing approach, the pilot of a Cessna 210 placed the landing gear handle into the down and locked position while on downwind. The pilot did not recall whether the down-and-lock indication light illuminated. Upon touchdown, the landing gear retracted, and the airplane contacted the ground.
Post-Incident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear was in the up and locked position. Investigators found no mechanical discrepancies with the landing gear system. The absence of mechanical faults suggests the gear retraction was initiated by human action or omission during the landing sequence.
Pilot Report and Checklist
The pre-landing checklist for the Cessna 210 instructs that the landing gear should be extended, and the pilot should visually observe that the main gear is down and that the green indicator light is on. The registered owner and pilot were requested to complete a pilot/operator report but have not responded as of the investigation's release.
Investigation Status
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with focus on the pilot's actions and checklist adherence. No further information has been provided regarding the pilot's experience, flight conditions, or the extent of damage to the aircraft.