Incident Overview
A flight instructor was providing instruction in a multi-engine airplane equipped with retractable landing gear. During the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the instructor directed the student to perform a simulated single-engine emergency landing with the left engine shut down. This was the student's first training flight in a multi-engine aircraft.
Distraction and Gear-Up Landing
As the student executed the simulated emergency procedure, he asked the instructor a series of questions. The instructor reported that both individuals became distracted and subsequently failed to extend the landing gear. The airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted, sliding along the runway before coming to a stop.
Damage and Mechanical Status
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and longerons. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Instructor's Recommendation
In the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the instructor noted in the recommendation section that the accident could have been prevented by implementing a sterile cockpit during critical phases of flight, as outlined in the flight school's operations manual.