Accident Overview
On December 12, 2016, at approximately 1505 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, registration N27405, landed with its landing gear retracted during touchdown at Clearwater Air Park in Clearwater, Florida. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Creative Marketing Associates Incorporated, based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a day, visual flight rules passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight had originated from Peter O Knight Airport in Tampa, Florida, about 1455 EST.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that after a cross-country flight in the retractable-gear airplane, he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport. On the downwind leg, he applied flaps, moved the landing gear lever down, and performed his GGUMPS checklist. He stated, "I saw the landing gear down lights lighting up after I pushed the landing gear lever completely down." On short final, as the airplane passed through 500 feet above ground level, he verified three green landing gear down indicator lights and applied full flaps for landing. The airplane then landed hard on the runway and skidded to a stop.
Pilot Experience
The pilot held a Commercial Pilot Certificate and reported 4,664 total flight hours, including 860 hours in the accident airplane. He had flown 5 hours in the accident airplane the day before the accident.
Aircraft Maintenance
The accident airplane had flown 9.6 hours since a 100-hour inspection completed two months prior to the accident.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection by FAA Airworthiness Inspectors noted substantial damage to the fuselage keel beams, stringers, and formers. Photographs of the left and right landing gear, leg, and wheel doors provided by the FAA Airworthiness Inspector showed no damage to either leg or wheel doors, consistent with the landing gear being retracted during landing.
Landing Gear System Check
Following the accident, a landing gear extension and retraction check was completed under the supervision of an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, and a separate inspection was conducted by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector. Both inspections confirmed that there were no faults, malfunctions, or anomalies with the landing gear extension or retraction system, including the indicator lights and warning horn.