Incident Overview
On February 21, 2013, approximately 0930 eastern standard time, a TTX Lancair Evolution airplane (N613TX) sustained minor damage during a gear-up landing at Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The aircraft, registered to and operated by TTX Air, LLC, was conducting an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight Sequence
The local flight originated from EYE around 0910. The pilot reported conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. The first two landings were uneventful. After the third takeoff, the landing gear position indicator lights remained green (indicating gear down) after the selector handle was moved to the retracted position. The selector handle was cycled, and the landing gear appeared to retract normally. The next landing and takeoff were routine.
Pilot Statements
The pilot stated that on the subsequent landing, he intended to execute a no-flap (flaps-up) full-stop landing. The landing gear selector handle was lowered on the downwind leg, abeam the runway end. Becoming fixated on the no-flap landing likely precluded his confirmation of the landing gear position—three green indicator lights. He recalled hearing the landing gear warning tone as the airplane entered the landing flare with engine power at idle, shortly before the airplane contacted the runway with the landing gear retracted. The pilot noted a breakdown in crew resource management and checklist usage.
Instructor Statements
The flight instructor reported that the pilot selected landing gear down abeam the landing point on the downwind leg. Both were focused on maintaining proper airspeed and approach angle. The instructor did not recall verifying the landing gear position indication. As airspeed decreased below 95 knots on final approach, he became aware of the landing gear warning tone, but the airplane contacted the runway before he could initiate a go-around.
Postincident Examination
A postincident examination of the landing gear extension/retraction system revealed no anomalies. The extension/retraction cycles were initiated with the cockpit selector switch, and the position indicator lights operated normally during the examination. The landing gear aural warning system activated at a simulated airspeed of 100 knots.
Damage
The airplane came to rest with the landing gear retracted in the grass area, about 30 feet east of runway 3. The airplane traveled approximately 1,844 feet from the initial touchdown point to the final resting point. Two runway lights were damaged during the runway excursion.