Incident Overview
A pilot of a retractable landing gear equipped airplane reported landing with the landing gear retracted. After touchdown, the airplane slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop near the right edge of the runway.
Damage and Mechanical Condition
The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Observations by FAA Inspector
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector, who was already at the accident airport for an unrelated event, observed the landing gear retracted into the wheel wells and the landing gear handle in the up position. The inspector also noted that the pilot was using a noise-cancelling headset. According to the inspector, the landing gear warning horn was not designed to sound through the headsets or intercom system, but would be audible in the cockpit.
Post-Accident Gear Extension
During the airplane recovery process, the landing gear handle was moved to the down position, and the landing gear extended and locked normally.
FAA Safety Bulletin
The FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), CE-16-08, regarding noise-cancelling headsets, states that pilots using such headsets may be unaware of environmental sounds and audible warning annunciations in the cockpit that do not come through the intercom system. The SAIB recommends that general aviation pilots and operators become familiar with FAA InFO 0700 and elect to find other solutions to discern alarms or discontinue using noise-cancelling headsets if necessary.
Pilot Report
The pilot did not report whether or not he had heard the landing gear warning horn prior to landing.