Accident Overview
On April 14, 2015, at approximately 1145 eastern daylight time, a Socata TBM 700, registration N850WM, experienced a gear-up landing on runway 24 at Evart Municipal Airport (9C8), Evart, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom fuselage skin. The commercial pilot and flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane was registered to Wings Up III LLC and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had departed 9C8 around 1100 and was planned to return, but after the accident, it diverted to Roben-Hood Airport (RQB) in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Flight Details
According to the flight instructor, the flight departed 9C8 with a normal takeoff from runway 24, followed by basic VFR air work including steep turns and slow flight. The aircraft returned to 9C8 for pattern work, performing a normal landing, a landing with 10 degrees of flaps, and a landing with 0 degrees of flaps. During the approach for the no-flap landing, the landing gear was not extended at midfield, as had occurred during the previous two landings. As the airplane descended into ground effect, both the pilot and flight instructor realized the gear was not down and initiated a go-around. However, the rear ventral strikes and a portion of the aft belly contacted the runway, and the propeller struck the runway before the descent could be reversed. The crew continued the climb, assessed the damage and controllability, and diverted to RQB, where maintenance was available. The landing at RQB was uneventful.
Pilot Statements
In a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that he was a "long time fixed wing pilot." The instructional flight was part of an insurance-required checkout, and the flight instructor was recommended by the insurance company. The pilot reported that he underwent significant ground training in the accident airplane, and this was his first flight with the instructor. He stated that prior to the accident, he was unaware that there was no gear warning annunciation without flaps extended. The pilot was the flying pilot, and the instructor was demonstrating a no-flap approach. The pilot noted they were flying a "quite large" traffic pattern. He said he was "distracted" from monitoring airspeed and attitude, and upon hearing the sound of contact, he applied power to abort the landing because little runway remained. After becoming airborne, they stabilized the airplane and proceeded to an airport with more services.
Post-Accident Actions
The accident was not initially reported by the owner or operator. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Grand Rapids Flight Standards District Office discovered the incident after being notified by an individual on April 28, 2015. By that time, the airplane had been moved to Socata North America, Inc., in Pompano, Florida, for repairs as directed by insurance representatives for Traverse City Helicopters, LLC. The FAA reported the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board Central Region Duty Officer on May 6, 2015.
Aircraft Information
According to the TBM 700 Pilot Operating Handbook, Section 4, Normal Procedures, the Before Landing checklist requires the landing gear control to be in the down position, all three landing gear green lights illuminated, and the red warning light off.
A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he did not possess a high-altitude endorsement as required by Part 61.31(g) for operating pressurized aircraft capable of high-altitude flight. The logbook showed 19.7 hours of dual instruction in the Socata TBM 700 and no pilot-in-command time in that make and model.