Incident Overview
A pilot landed an airplane with the landing gear retracted, resulting in structural damage to the aircraft. The incident occurred after the pilot entered the traffic pattern and executed a landing approach without first lowering the landing gear.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he entered the airport's traffic pattern for landing and subsequently touched down with the gear still retracted. He stated that he did not use a landing checklist during the approach. Additionally, the pilot noted that he was wearing a noise-cancelling headset, which prevented him from hearing the landing gear caution horn when he reduced the throttle for landing.
Damage
The bottom of the airplane sustained structural damage, requiring the replacement of several bulkheads, associated stringers, and a significant area of skin.