Incident Overview
A flight instructor reported that during the first landing of a training flight, the pilot-rated student failed to extend the landing gear. The instructor acknowledged that he did not notice the gear was still in the UP position during the approach. The student had set the manifold pressure at 15 inches of mercury; the landing gear warning horn is designed to activate at 13 inches of manifold pressure. Additionally, the landing checklist was not accomplished before touchdown. The airplane landed with all three landing gear in the retracted position, which resulted in substantial damage to the undercarriage.
Operational Details
The instructor noted that the missed step in the checklist and the lack of awareness of the gear position were key aspects of the event. The warning horn did not sound because the manifold pressure exceeded the activation threshold, preventing an auditory alert that might have prompted a corrective action. The landing was completed without gear extension, leading to the aircraft sliding on its belly.
Damage Assessment
Substantial damage occurred to the undercarriage components, including the landing gear doors, wheel wells, and associated structure. The extent of the damage required repairs before the aircraft could be returned to service.
Reporting and Findings
The instructor's report highlighted the failure to extend the landing gear, the absence of a proper landing checklist, and the circumstances that prevented the warning horn from operating. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft was not destroyed.